Saints will resume at 8-202 at Robertson Oval on Saturday after Ryan Forsyth and Dave Garness put on a crucial 32-run partnership late in the day.

St Michaels almost threw away a great start against the ladder leaders with some poor middle order batting.

Coach Justin Ward (58) and Beck Frostick (51) put 144 on for the opening wicket before the Blues spinners got into the match.

Terry Willis claimed 4-37 while Warren Clunes chipped in with two wickets as the Saints lost 8-56.

However same rearguard action from Forsyth (46 not out) and Garness (15 not out) saw the side through to stumps.

Ward thought it was an important partnership.

“It’s happened all year as we had a mid-order collapse but luckily Ryan hung around and got some runs,” Ward said.

“Dave did a great job with Ryan, they were fantastic to squeeze out another 30 or 40 runs to get us to 200 at the end of the day.

“It gives us something to bowl at at least.”

Things were looking good at the start of the innings with some patience from the in-form Frostick and Ward.

Frostick brought up his fifth half century in his last six matches and Ward his second following a long time out of the sport.

He was pleased to get off to another good start.

“It wasn’t the quickest partnership to be honest, we scratched around a bit while they bowled really good lines and good lengths,” Wards said.

“They made it difficult for us to score runs.”

With South Wagga is good form coming off a win over Wagga City, Ward is hoping to pick up another 40 runs next week before South Wagga get a chance to respond.

“We probably need more against them,” he said.

“We will try to do what we can and at the end of the day if we can either bowl them out or even scrape up a two-point draw it would be great for us and handy going ahead.”

The Saints are a point outside the top four and picking up some points against the ladder leaders would be a huge push for their push to return to finals.

Only four Saints batsmen managed double figures, and a lack of contribution from the whole order remains a big concern for Ward.

It’s something he’s still trying to work on.

“It’s a massive worry for us,” Ward said.

Saints can bat up to 17 more overs when play resumes next week but how long they bat for will affect how many overs they have at South Wagga with the ball.

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