Tara Murray
Footscray is starting to find some form in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition, claiming victory against the Camberwell Magpies on Saturday.
The Bulldogs sit 2-2 after the first four rounds with coach Dale McDonald saying they were starting to put together some good cricket.
“It has been a slower start than we would have liked,” he said. “It’s been unsettling for everyone.
“We’re starting to find some good form and we have some challenging teams coming up which should be a good challenge.”
On Saturday, the Bulldogs accounted for the Magpies at Camberwell.
With the threat of rain hanging over the game, the match wasn’t played in the easier conditions.
McDonald said they were made to work hard for the win.
“It was a nice win in hard fought conditions,” he said. “The wicket wasn’t great without being too critical.
“It wasn’t ideal conditions.”
The Magpies were bowled out for 152 in the 42nd over. Max Birthisel took 4-27 for the Bulldogs.
While the run chase wasn’t a massive one, it was something McDonald said they weren’t taking lightly.
“I had no doubt that we would make the runs,” he said.
“It was a lot harder than what the boys would have normally had to do, We got there really well in the end.
“Ryan Stingel came in on debut and got 35 and another four or five guys contributed.”
The Bulldogs finished 4-152 from 41 overs with Stingel top scoring.
McDonald said it was a good opportunity for Stingel, who crossed from Essendon in the off season, with Dylan Brasher out injured.
“It came on the back of some good foundations in the seconds in the opening rounds,” he said.
“With Dylan out injured, Ryan did his chances no harm.”
McDonald said they were hopeful that Brasher would return this week. He missed the match with Camberwell with a bulging disc in his back after pulling up sore on Friday.
While Brasher missed Saturday, the other Dylan, Dylan Kight is starting to find some form after returning the previous week.
“He’s had a shoulder injury,” he said. “It’s still impacting him a little bit but he has come back in and showed his class.
“He made 30 not out on the weekend and was outstanding.”
The Bulldogs this week face Melbourne University at home, the first of three home matches in a row.
There were mixed results across the board for the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Their second XI won with a couple of players pushing their cases for a first XI spot.
“They’re going really well,” he said. “Josh Pace has started off really well. He has come from Keilor and is doing really well and got under-17 Victorian selection along with a couple of other boys.
“It’s not surprising that he is one to watch in the future. James Doherty made another 60 odd and is pushing for a middle order spot or a spot in the T20s which are coming up.”
The third and fourth XI both suffered losses.
