Tara Murray
Williamstown opened its account with a hard fought win against Moorabbin in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association south-west on Saturday.
After a first up loss to Altona, the Seagulls couldn’t afford to make it two losses in a row.
It took a little bit of time, but the Seagulls were able to do enough to come away with the win in the final over of the day.
Seagulls Jordan Doyle said it was an important match for them early in the season.
“It was nice,” he said. “After losing the first one we couldn’t make it two in a row.
“Being 1-1 and if we give ourselves the best chance the next few games, hopefully we’ll be ahead of the ledger at Christmas time.
After winning the toss, Moorabbin was bowled out for 164 in the final over.
Doyle said they were pretty happy to keep them to that score.
“They got off to flier,” he said. “They teed off from ball one and hit us to all parts of the ground.
“To keep them to 164 in the end after they got off to a good start was pleasing. Our spinners bowled well and pegged it back.”
Mitch Ferrie took 4-25 of his six overs while Sean Sturrock and Chris Duffin both bowled well, going at less than two runs an over.
The Seagulls started well before losing wickets in clumps twice during the run chase.
They did enough to finish 7-165.
“We lost our way in the middle,” Doyle said. “We’ve moved 17-year-old George Pinkey up to number four and he had some good partnerships.
“Sean made 33 and Piron [Kent], our English import, made 32 not out and helped stir us home to get a pretty good win.”
It’s a slightly different line up this season for the Seagulls.
Matthew Twentyman has returned to his home club Rupertswood, while Jack Craig is having a year off and Zac Thorne has departed.
They’re hoping to get James Cook back in a few weeks, while they’ve got a couple of players out with calf injuries at the moment.
Doyle said they are a bit light on early in the season, but it opens up opportunities for the likes of Pinkey.
“George won our MVP [most valuable player] award in the seconds last year and was earmarked to play in the firsts,” he said.
“He’s not in the team to make up numbers. We think he’ll be a really good player.”
After missing out on finals the past couple of seasons, Doyle said they were keen to get back in there.
“We have won five premierships in 25 years but it’s been five or six years now since we’ve won one.
“You can’t win it if you don’t play finals. It will be a tough ask and we are in a pretty good group.”
In other games, Yarraville lost to Malvern, Altona lost to Brighton and Spotswood lost to Taylors Lakes.
