The Tigers are poised to take first innings points against Goulburn heavyweights Coolavin/Workers after bowling out the visitors for 211 inside 50 overs on Saturday.

Wingello were 4-95 at stumps and with plenty of overs in hand captain Michael Pike said they should take first innings points.

Fired up by comments from Workers skipper Jason Apps to the Goulburn Post on Friday that only three teams could bat out their 75 overs (Tully Park, Robertson and the Workers) Wingello showed that they belong in the top four with a solid effort in the field.

But Apps didn’t count on Tigers opener Andrew Benson returning his best ever first grade figures of 6-37. The Workers failed to capitalise on a good start and lost their last six wickets for 90 runs.

Apps (58) and Sam Taylor (51) hit valuable half centuries for the visitors with Andrew Squires (27) also starting strongly.

Benson was well supported by the Tigers attack with Cameron Pike (1-29), David Short (1-22), Grant Pike (1-46) and James Baldwin (1-44) all taking one scalp apiece. The Tigers bowled accurately and only conceding eight extras.

Wingello’s first innings got off to a shaky start and after losing two wickets in the seventh and two more in the 19th over they were 4-46. Cameron Pike (22no) and Grant Pike (21no) have the opportunity to get the Tigers over the line next Saturday, but Michael Pike said it would be like opening the batting again on a flat Bradman track with Workers opening bowlers Taylor and Nick Prell firing in. Taylor finished with 2-12 on Saturday.

Michael Pike said he was happy with the result at stumps but would have liked to have a few more wickets in hand. He said Benson deserved his five-wicket haul after a frustrating summer so far.

“AB has been very unlucky and has had batsmen playing and missing but has just missed getting an edge,” he said.

“Eventually it was going to come off for him and yesterday it did.

“We fielded really well and took some good catches. Paul Briggs took a great diving catch at point to take our first wicket.”

Apps comments about a three horse race proved good motivation for Wingello.

“Apps said only three sides could bat 75 overs, well they didn’t quite get there,” Michael Pike said.

The Tigers skipper said his sons would have to bat patiently and see off the Workers openers next week but with Bob Lewis and Ricky Martin still to bat Wingello has the firepower to get 117 runs required for first innings points.