Tara Murray
Hanging Rock’s next generation is getting its opportunities in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association Jensen Shield seconds.
After losing a number of players in the off season, the Heelers have looked to their youth to fill the void in the top side.
It’s worked so far, with two wins from their two completed matches.
Heelers secretary Nick Maxwell said things were looking a bit dire in the off season.
“We’ve had a good start,” he said. “We weren’t really sure with senior cricket in particular how we would go with numbers.
“We had a few saying they were having breaks from cricket. We were thinking we would have one side… Closer to the start of the season we had enough for two teams.
“Kyneton doesn’t have a senior team and we picked up four players from their side.”
Maxwell said they had struggled a bit with junior numbers as well with the club only fielding an under-13 team and two under-11 teams.
He said they were still always looking for numbers for all their teams.
With some uncertainty over their side and knowing it would be a young team, Maxwell said they asked to drop down a grade.
So far it has proven to be the right move.
“We’ve been in Jensen one the last couple of years,” he said. “We lost a little bit of experience from our senior side.
“A large portion of the side are aged between 15 and 20. The two games we’ve finished have been quite competitive games.”
Maxwell said early on they’d had contributions for a number of different players.
Andrew Warne has taken on the captain-coach role this season having been around the club for a number of years.
He has been in the runs in their first win with a half century.
On Saturday, 15-year-old Finlay Watt made 51 to help his side put on 145 against Lancefield.
Maxwell said the game was still on the line with 12 overs to go, before the Heelers bowlers managed to get the job down.
The Tigers were bowled out for 111.
Mitchell Wearne and Maxwell took three wickets each. Maxwell said that the younger bowlers all had good line and length.
He said they were keen to give the younger players a good opportunity.
“I’m normally the opening bowler and I didn’t bowl in the first game,” he said. “I’ve had a bit of a back injury, but it’s a good opportunity to help them develop their craft.
“That’s our mantra across both our sides. Try to build through our juniors.”
Maxwell said off field there had been some improvements to the club’s facilities including the installation of a hot water service.
In other results, Malmsbury beat Blackwood convincely.
Malmsbury made 3-315. Matt Cox and Chris Ganim both made centuries.
Blackwood was restricted to 6-206.
Trentham lost its match to Romsey.
The Redbacks made 6-173 before restricting the Saints to 155.
