There would rarely be a game where the Rixon name doesn't figure among North Tamworth's top scorers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
More often than not twice, in one instance preceded by a B and the other an M.
For the better part of the last decade the brothers have been causing double trouble for opposition bowlers.
On Saturday they were at it again, with both notching half-centuries as the Tamworth cricket season got underway.
Brendan made 66 and Michael 56, the two also sharing a century stand.
READ ALSO:
Not the first time the dynamic duo have scored half-centuries on the same day, their 102-run partnership for the third wicket provided the foundation for the Redbacks to reach 9-214 from their 40 overs.
They then steamrolled Bective East for just 79, Brad Redshaw claiming 5-25 and Karl Triebe 3-8.
Opening the bowling, Michael backed up his efforts with the bat with 1-19.
After a very quiet winter, Brendan said it was good to get back to playing some sport, albeit a bit "weird" and "foreign" with the various protocols like not being able to touch the bails, the umpires not being able to touch the ball and not being able to shake hands after the game.
"It was a bit bizarre and took a little while to get everything sorted," he said.
"But it was good, good to get out and have a bit of sport and just see some people and have conversations outside of what we were watching.
"A little bit of normality."
He was by his own admission "a bit rusty" but enjoyed being back out in the middle again, and especially getting to bat for a while with his younger brother.
"A big part of the reason I still play is to play with him," Brendan said.
It was one of the things that had him contemplating a return for Pirates before the pandemic saw the Central North season cancelled.
Saturday was the third time in four seasons the brothers have combined for a century or more partnership. In a game against City United in the 2017/18 season they put on 135. Then last season, as Brendan became the club's highest-ever runscorer, they shared a 123-run stand.
The collective result was though the most pleasing part of Saturday.
"We got the bonus points and it's about as good a start as you could ask for," Brendan said, noting that there were some good contributions from a number of people.
As well as he and Michael, and Redshaw and Triebe, new recruit Anton Peenz was another to stand up. The University of New England student, got them off to a good start with 31 at the top of the order.