Tara Murray
The process is starting to work for Rupertswood in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup.
It was a slow start to the season for Rupo under new coach Nathan Shoesmith, but the side has started to put together some better performances in recent rounds.
Shoesmith said they knew it was going to take some time this season.
“It was a rough start to the season, but it’s a lot better now,” he said. “There was a bit of change, losing some players and starting the season with a really young side.
“We’ve stuck with the same processes. It was going to take some time to click and enable some of the younger players to get some more confidence in what we are looking to do.”
Shoesmith said it was encouraging for the long term future of the club to have a young first XI side which they can build around for a number of years.
He said as that confidence grows, the players are backing themselves to play a bit more freely.
“We had JL [John Lane] in for a lot of the year and he was like the dad of the side,” he said.
“We really enjoyed it but now he has dropped back into the second side.
“We now don’t have a player over 30 which is quite remarkable.”
That new found confidence was on show on day one of Rupo’s clash with Sunbury United on Saturday.
The Bees were bowled out for 216 in the 66th over.
Shoesmith said they were pretty happy with that total at the end of the day.
“ We were really happy to get a few wickets early and have them 5-60 or 5-70. We were rapt with that.
“A couple of wickets we got a bit of luck. At the start of the season everything was against us.
“They got a partnership going, but the guys stuck fat. It could have easily been 300-plus so to beg it back to 216 we were pretty happy.
Joel Muir was the pick of the bowlers, taking 5-51 off 18 overs.
Rupo had to face 13 overs at the end of the day. It was the worst possible start, losing two wickets.
Rupo will resume at 2-12.
“It’s not ideal losing two quick wickets,” he said. “It’s the best time to bowl when you’re out there for half hour and you can give it your all.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge next week.”
With two wins on the board, Shoesmith said they were hoping to add a few more to the total before the season is out, starting this week.
“Two-day cricket is what we are better suited to,” he said. “Playing a lot of one-day cricket may not have helped us so far.
“We’re definitely hoping we can get some more wins on the board. Most importantly it’s about sticking the process and the young players learn as we go.”
