Tara Murray
Four years ago Lancefield finished at the bottom of the Gisborne and District Cricket Association Jensen Shield ladder.
With just one senior men’s team and one junior team, times were tough for the Tigers.
Fast forward to this season a lot has changed and for the better.
The men’s first XI made the grand final of the Jensen Shield, falling short to Bacchus Marsh.
As well as a second men’s side, the club has two senior women’s teams, with one making the grand final.
Tigers president Andrew Richardt, who also plays in the first XI and coaches the women’s side, said they were really happy with where the club is at.
“Four years ago we had one senior side and one junior side,” he said.
“Four years later we have four senior sides and four junior sides.
“It shows we are doing something right behind the scenes.”
The men’s side fell just short of back-to-back premierships. The side won the division 2 title in 2020-21, before being promoted into the Jensen Shield.
Richardt said it had been a really competitive season. Both their men’s sides made finals.
“We were beaten by a better team,” he said of the grand final loss to Bacchus Marsh.
“Stepping up into the Jensen Shield we were quite competitive. There were six or seven teams that could have made finals on any given day.
“You couldn’t just rock up.”
Richardt said the Jensen was about right for where they should be playing at the moment.
Several youngsters were part of the first XI and played their roles. Richardt said Callum Sankey, Jake O’Meara and Blake Rix all made really good contributions.
The club for the first time fielded two women’s sides.
The Black team made the grand final which was washed out. Macedon was awarded the premiership after finishing higher on the ladder.
Richardt said it was “pretty sucky” to lose a grand final that way, but was so proud of the group.
“We went from one side to two this year and still competitive. The two sides were a mixture of ability. We’ll look to build off that and likely to have a more competitive side and social side.”
The Tigers aren’t content with the results from this season.
Richardt said they would look to add further men’s and women’s sides next season.
Juniors are also a big focus.
“We’ve had two under-11 sides for a few years. We’re aiming to push our under-11s into under-13s into under-13s into under-15s.
“Our Woolworths Blast we had over 25 young people. It’s a pathway and we want to build around that.”
