NEWCASTLE Steel are no longer dismissed as bush cricketers by their Sydney Twenty20 Cup rivals.
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They ditched that tag in their first season. Now, in their third campaign, the Steel are aiming much higher than mere respect.
They opened the season with a three-wicket win over Sutherland at Glenn McGrath Oval on Sunday, reaching the target of 5-129 with four balls to spare.
With a double-header at home on Sunday, October 11, the Steel have set their sights on qualifying for the finals.
"Most of the team has played in Sydney," Steel coach Shane Burley said.
"Down there they know we are not just bush cricketers. We are a good side.
"Our aim is to win the four [round games].
"Get two wins at home next and then go down to Mosman for the final round and give that a red-hot crack.
"We did a really good job with the ball and in the field today."
Left-arm quicks Dan Morton (1-28) and Daniel McLauchlan (1-22) set the tone early to hold Sutherland to 3-55 after eight overs. Shane Smith (28) got going in the middle of the innings as the home side climbed to 5-129.
"We were happy to restrict them to that," Burley said.
"Daniel McLauchlan and Dan Morton did a good job early on. Joe Price [1-21 off four overs] tightened it up in the middle overs, and spinner Pat Darwen [1-6 off two] and Nick Foster [1-25 off four] also bowled well."
Greg Hunt (35) and Mark Littlewood (25) combined in a 54-run partnership, taking the score from 1-17 to 2-71, to lay the platform for the successful run chase.
"Batting was tough today. It was a bit slow," Burley said.
Newcastle beat Gordon in the opening round last season before losing to St George, Easts and UNSW.
They meet Illawarra and Randwick-Petersham in the double-header at No. 1 Sportsground on Sunday, October 11, before finishing the round matches against Mosman at Allan Border Oval on October 18.
"Three wins might be enough to get through on quotient, depending on other results," Burley said.
"We are really excited about the home game. We have asked from year one, and it has taken us three years to get it done."