For many years Cowra have been rated amongst the top sides in central western cricket but after the retirement of three key performers brought a youthful squad to Forbes.

Forbes came into the match undefeated and playing on home turf had hoped to keep their record in tact.

David Henderson was the destroyer for Cowra, claiming 4/18 and playing a large part in restricting the home side to just 155.

Sixty eight from Cowra batsmen Michael Curtale made the visitors’ chase an easy one.

“It was very disappointing with the bat. It was a good track and a fast outfield and we didn’t score enough runs,” Forbes captain Daniel Bayley said.

Bayley said Forbes missed opportunities, including dropping Curtale when the batsman was yet to score.

“We made it hard for ourselves,” he said.

Bayley said the bowling of Ricky Brett and Adam Hall was encouraging and it was the first match the side had played with out quick Lee Dunstan, who now moved away from Forbes.

Forbes won the toss and Jason Davenport and Matt Roylance opened the batting.

The pair got Forbes out to 22 before Davenport was run out for four.

Andrew Glasson fell without score moments later, leaving Roylance and Bayley in the middle.

Roylance and Bayley showed the first real fight and they advanced Forbes’ total to 56 before Nathan Thorn struck to remove Bayley for 20.

Tom Caldwell came to the crease and he and Roylance combined for a solid partnership which ended with Roylance just one run shy of his half century.

Caldwell went for 14 and Daniel Bayley and Adam Hall came to the middle.

The pair combined well before Henderson set about the task of cleaning up the Forbes tail.

He claimed Bayley for 20 and Hall for 23. Nick Guthrie claimed Gus Coles’ wicket without score and Henderson struck again to remove Matt Coles (0).