Tara Murray
Altona started the VIctorian Sub-District Cricket Association south-west season with a mature win against Williamstown.
The two local rivals faced off to start the season and it was the A’s that came away with bragging rights.
A’s coach Aaron Whear said he thought it was a very mature performance.
After being sent in, the A’s made 8-186 from their overs.
“A couple of things really stood out,” he said. “The 95 put on by Connor Brown and Ben Davies at the start of the innings after losing an early wicket.
“Matt Turchinovich and Charlie Ward towards the bottom of the innings put on a good partnership.
“It gave us a defendable total.”
Davies top scored with 50, while Brown made 42.
For the Seagulls, Jarrod Flood Bauce, Sean Sturrock and Piran Kent took two wickets each.
The Seagulls looked in control in their batting innings at 1-70 before the wickets started to fall and they crumbed to 9-108.
While they batted out the innings, the total of 9-121 was nowhere near enough.
Cameron Daltera was the only batter to pass 20, finishing with 45.
Whear said their spin bowlers did the damage.
Adam Yates took 3-12 off his nine overs, while Brown took 4-23.
Whear said that was the best he had seen Brown bowl since he took up spin bowling last year.
“He used to be a medium pace bowler when he was younger,” he said. “We had a gap in off spin and having someone to complement the leg spin of Adam.
“He was put in the side as an opening bat at a young age and he’s been working on his craft and added it to his bow.”
Whear said they were looking to build on the development that they made last season.
He said it was positive to play finals, but disappointing at the same time after just missing out on playing in a grand final.
They have kept a very similar squad.
“Dan Mackenzie has been a long term player at the club and missed the back half of last season through injury so he is like a new recruit,” Whear said.
“Luke Medlock is back out from England and has played at the club before. The only guy we have lost is Matthew Grubb, who has decided not to play cricket.”
Whear said one of the pleasing things was they had a lot more depth across all the grades.
He said it’s the best it’s been in his time at the club.
“When I took over we were calling people to play in the fourths,” he said. “We had a selection dilemma in a different way with six guys who have been training regularly and couldn’t get a game.”
The A’s this week face Brighton.
Yarraville and Spotswood also both started their season with wins.
The Eagles chased down Oakleigh’s 9-191 with four overs and five wickets in hand, finishing 5-196.
Spotswood held off Moorabbin. After making 185 the Woodsmen bowled Moorabbin out for 176.
