Tara Murray
Things continue to track in the right direction for Footscray Angliss in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 5.
Having gone winless a couple of seasons ago, Angliss made the semi finals last season. After nine rounds, the club’s first XI along with its other two turf sides all sit second on the ladder.
Angliss president Michael Cox said things were tracking along really well at the club.
“We’ve done really well,” he said . “We got Anders Welsh on board last season as head coach which has really helped us.
“We recruited really well in the off season as well. All the extra stuff we’re doing has brought the level up around the club and we’re really happy.”
The journey to be competing for finals and premierships, is one that comes back to decision a couple of years ago.
After not winning a game, Cox said the then committee made a decision on where the club would head moving forward.
“We had to make the decision: did we want to be a social club or did we want to be a cricket club that wants to win games?
“The committee decided that we wanted to be a club that won games and was a destination club
“We made the decision to go that way and then we picked up Anders and things have picked up from there.”
Backing up last season’s performance, the club added several new players across their third sides.
They recruited four players from higher levels for their first XI who wanted to be involved with what they were doing.
They also had a couple of others walk in off the street.
On Saturday, Angliss had its first taste of red ball cricket since before COVID-19 against Barkly Street Uniting.
Angliss made 263, bowled out in the 74.3 overs.
Jarrod Eccles top scored with 58.
Barkly Street had to face two overs at the end of the day and will resume at 1-1.
Cox said he believed that the majority of their squad was suited to the longer format.
“The guys were looking forward to two-day cricket,” he said.
“We’re reasonably happy in the ones, but there’s a couple of guys who made scores and didn’t go on with it, who would have liked to have scored more.”
Angliss’ second XI has already claimed first innings points in their match.
Cox said they were aiming for finals for all three turf sides, with the coaching panel and committee targeting grand finals.
In other matches, Melton South Royals piled on the runs against Seabrook, finishing with 8-331.
In senior division, Yarraville Club is 3-55 in reply to Westmeadows 125, while Keilor made 8-324 against the Druids.
In division 1, Altona North made 199 against Sydenham-Hillside and Seddon made 249 against Airport West St Christophers.
Meanwhile in division 2, Footscray United was out of 96 against St Andrews Pascoe Vale. St Andrews is 4-49 in reply.
Altona Roosters are closing in on first innings points against Kingsville. The Roosters are 2-108 in reply to Kingsville’s 122.
Newport-Digman have Keilor Park 5-46 in reply to 94, while West Newport made 5-249 against Williamstown CYMS.
