Colts bounced back from their season-opening loss to Round Swamp with a 47 run win over Rugby League at John Oxley.

Despite 22 from Ed Blomfield at the top of the order, the defending champions were looking shaky at 7-37. They managed to muster 9-79 from their 20 overs, thanks largely to an unbeaten 29 from Will Fletcher coming in at nine.

Veterans George Lyon and Peter Boyd, who are both this week playing for Tamworth in the NSW Veterans Championships, were the destroyers. Lyon claimed a wicket in each of his four overs to finish with 4-10, while Boyd chimed in with 3-11 to follow his first game 4-9.

Rugby League in reply were never in the hunt.

They were 8-18 at one stage but scrambled to 32.

Backing up their deeds with the bat, Blomfield and Fletcher figured among the wickets. 

Blomfield started the rot picking up the first wicket with his first ball, and just seventh of the innings. Fletcher opened with him and claimed 1-2.

Andrew Blomfield likewise only conceded two runs from his four overs. Both of those came in the one over, with Blomfield bowling three maidens in his 3-2.

Phil Frewin and Jacob Sherrin also both nabbed 2-3.

In the other game, Uralla could only muster nine players and were bowled out for 71 at Captain Cook.

Matt Tasik made 14 of those and Nick Locke 13, after openers Jay Grills and Nathan Swann had hit 11 and 10, respectively.

Ossie Kuhr (3-19), Ben France (2-6) and Ben Cross (2-9) did the damage, with Craig Lord snaring the remaining wicket.

Swamp then chased down the runs with six wickets in hand.

Troy Yarnold polished off almost half of those and was unbeaten on 38. Lee Harrison also chipped in with a quick 17, which included three boundaries.

Garry Aulakh (2-14) was the only multiple wicket-taker with Grills and Cameron Kelly picking up the other two.

Narrabri’s Ryan Meppem and Inverell’s Tom Scoble have meanwhile been selected in the ACT/NSW Country side to contest the National U19s Championships in Adelaide in December.

Both were part of the ACT/NSW Country U17s side last year.

NSW Pathway head coach Beau Casson is impressed with the cricket the both the NSW Metropolitan and ACT/NSW Country squads are playing in the lead up to the tournament.

“I’m excited for the state, Metro has some players to look out for in the future and ACT/NSW Country have a lot of second year players,” Casson said.