Guyra's first grade team came agonisingly close to snaring a win in the opening round of the Armidale Cricket season when they took on Hillgrove on Saturday.
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Batting first at Ted Mulligan Oval, Hillgrove were in control early on with openers Matt Baillie and Matt Schaefer racking up a partnership of 126 before Baillie departed on 66. Schaefer was then dismissed for 61 and things started to go wrong for Hillgrove.
Fifteen-year-old Sam Johnson was caught on 15, then newcomer Patrick Rankmore left on five and experienced batman Brad King was dismissed for six.
Andrew Brownlie stabilised the innings with 47 and Max Laurie contributing with 17 as Hillgrove were all out for 249.
Guyra's Matt Finlay picked up 5-33 from his nine overs in a standout match for him while Mitch Woods, BJ Cameron, Kieran Wicks, Charlie White and Brandon Landsborough all snagged one wicket each.
Guyra's run chase didn't go to plan initially either with Shane Wolfenden dismissed on 10 and fellow opener Brandon Landsborough bowled by Laurie for four.
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BJ Cameron and Finlay steadied their innings with 45 and 48 respectively before Demielle Landsborough smacked 73 runs with eight fours and three sixes.
The match came down to the wire before Hillgrove managed to finish Guyra off for 232.
With last season's captain Matt Jackson retiring, Charlie White has taken on the skippering role and said it wasn't a bad effort for the first match but there's plenty of work to do.
"Rusty, not impressed by the fielding efforts," he said.
"We gave them a few lines early on and they got away from us.
"We came back well; Matty Finlay and Brandon Landsborough bowled well and got us back in the game and got a reasonable score to chase.
"Still under-strength and, for the first game of the season, we will take that."
This Saturday first grade will play City at The Armidale School's backfield and there are "not many changes this week."
Guyra's second grade side faced Easts at Newling Oval and managed to pull off a victory over last season's runners-up.
Batting first, Guyra returnee Joey Ryan top-scored with 51 while Jake Brazier finished on 25 not out as Guyra finished on 5-185 from their 45 overs.
With the ball, Billy Youman secured the first wicket before Corey Torrens claimed the next scalp.
Heath Dowsett went on to take five wickets with Torrens adding another and Daniel Stace, Justin McKay and Thor Crombie cleaning up the rest to bowl Easts out for 144 and take the win.
This Saturday, Guyra will face TAS at the truckstop.
In third grade, Guyra took the win over TAS. Allan Boney top-scored with the bat with 48 while wickets were shared around. This Saturday, they will face Ex-Services at Newling 1.
Connolly Cup will also be played on Sunday in Walcha with Guyra players BJ Cameron, Corey Torrens and Brandon Landsborough named in the Armidale team.