Things are going right on and off the field for Riddell in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association Jensen Shield seconds.
Last season’s runners up, the Bombers sit atop the table after eight rounds with a perfect record.
Off field, the connections across the club continue to grow.
Speaking before the weekend’s game, Bombers coach Hayden Castle said they were really happy with how things were going.
“We’re off to a good start and we’ve been able to build on last season,” he said.
“It’s about culture and we’ve built a good culture around the club and getting the juniors being part of that.”
Castle said they didn’t have much of a relationship with the juniors last season, so it was something they wanted to build on in his first season as coach.
He said they’d had junior and senior trainings together and would have another one in the next couple of weeks.
“We’ve also been making sure we’re getting back to the club after games and getting really involved,” he said.
“I’ve been involved at other clubs where the seniors are involved with the juniors and they care. It’s a one club culture.”
On field, the Bombers continue to go from strength to strength.
They were able to beat Trentham in a top of the table clash on 29 November to give themselves a gap between them and the rest of the competition.
The match was played in “putrid” conditions with runs hard to come by.
The Bombers were six wickets down as they chased just 69.
“We would have liked it to have been a bit easier,” he said. “They are always the hardest totals to chase, the lowest one.
“It was a real mindset thing for us but we got it done which was good.”
Castle said with some player unavailabilities their depth has been tested and players have stepped up when given the opportunity.
He said they weren’t just relying on the top players to get the job done.
The weather wasn’t much better on Saturday as the Bombers faced Macedon in a one-dayer.
The match at Riddells Creek Recreation Reserve was one of not many that got onto the field.
It was a delayed start to the game, but they were able to get on once the rain cleared.
The Cats made 5-126 with James Taylor taking four wickets for the Bombers.
Castle then led the way with the bat, making 101 off 84 balls at the top of the order before retiring.
The Bombers finished 2-130 off 21.4 overs.
They finish the first part of the season with another one-dayer.
Castle said winning the last two games before Christmas would help set up their season.
Gisborne beat Sunbury United in the other Jensen Shield seconds game to go ahead on Saturday.
