Tara Murray
While the results don’t show the whole story, this season will be a successful one for Macedon in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup.
Having come up from the Johnstone Shield this season after winning the lower grade premiership, the Cats look like they have done enough to ensure their future in the top grade next season.
For coach Tim Berzins it has been a successful season overall for the club.
“We’ve had nine under-18s come through and a lot have got regular first XI team experience this year,” he said.
“We’ve had some young kids really shine. Cadel Howlett is now opening the bowling for us. Anthony Grobler, Will Bobetic… Overall, it’s been a really positive season.”
Berzins said they had always wanted to give some of the younger players an opportunity this season, but injuries to senior players had helped progress quicker than what they had been planning.
“It’s almost time for these younger guys to take over,” he said. “We are a completely different side to the side that won the premiership. We’ve got more guys under 20 than we do above it.
“It’s good for the club. We just have to be patient.”
The Cats that have won three games for the season are hoping to finish the season on a good note.
They are midway through their match with Woodend, before finishing off the season against Rupertswood, which is one of two teams below them on the ladder.
Berzins said they were confident they could get at least one more win on the board.
Berzins said they had their moments on day one of the clash against Woodend.
Woodend made 8-293 from 77 overs, before declaring to bowl a few overs at the Cats late in the day.
Andrew Cullen top scored with 85 at the top of the order for 85 before retiring.
Berzins and Cameron Howlett took two wickets each for the Cats.
“It was about 30-40 runs more than we wanted them to make,” Berzins said
“In key areas we let ourselves down. We were right on top in the second session before we dropped a few catches.
“These key areas in McIntyre Cup you can not afford to drop off. Everything matters. The guys will learn from this and get better in the future.
The Cats start with the bat wasn’t ideal with the side to resume at 2-19. Warren Else has both wickets for Woodend.
Berzins said they still believed that they could come away with the win.
“We didn’t want that to happen,” he said. “We had a quick talk about it and there’s a big opportunity next week for the senior players they need to step up and it’s a perfect opportunity for them to lead the way.”
In other matches, Rupertswood made 216 against Diggers Rest Bulla, Gisborne piled on the runs making 342 against the Sunbury Kangaroos and Romsey is 0-6 in reply to Sunbury United’s 190.
