Gisborne has enjoyed the perfect start to the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre cup season, sitting on the top of the ladder after two rounds.
The Dragons cruised past Diggers Rest Bulla in the opening round, defeating the Burras by 152 runs.
It was more of the same in round 2, defeating Macedon by 147 runs.
Dragons’ president Andrew Headberry said he couldn’t be happier with how his club has started off the season.
“I’m happy with the stuff in the McIntyre Cup,” he said.
“The guys have started brightly and I think we’re in pretty good shape.”
The Dragon’s opening batting partnership in Warren Kelly and Riley Vernon have kicked their season off with a bang. Kelly scored 63 in the first round and a massive 140 off just over 100 balls against the Bulls. While Vernon made 93 in the first game and 53 against the Bulls.
“Both those boys hit the ball really hard,” Headberry said.
“So if they get going it’s going to be really difficult for opposition bowlers because they’re scary propositions once they’re in a bit of form.”
It has been a good start for the Dragons, kicking their season off as scheduled, without rain delayed like many other cricket associations.
“That’s one of the benefits of playing on a hard wicket,” Headberry said.
“It’s probably been touch and go both weeks, it was pretty cold and miserable week one, but we got the games in, and there was a little bit of drizzle around last Saturday, but it didn’t disrupt it so that’s really good.”
With plenty of rounds still to play in the season the Dragons are hoping they can maintain this winning form.
“We’re starting off the season believing that we’re a finals team,” Headberry said.
“Last year we had the same mindset and we made it to the finals easy enough and then it didn’t work out for us.
“So that’s where we’re definitely targeting, another finals appearance.
“And looking to perform a bit better at the pointy end of the year.”
This weekend the Dragons faced off against fellow undefeated side Sunbury United. Speaking before the match, Headberry said he expected a tough match.
“We expect United to be strong again,” he said.
“It’s always good to come up against a contender reasonably early on and sort of see where we’re really at.
“It’s at our home ground so it should be a good one.”
