New Rupertswood captain-coach Mark Ryan isn’t predicting what the season may hold for the club in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association.
Rupertswood will return to the McIntyre Cup for the first time since 2012-13, after an emphatic win against St Anthonys in last season’s B-grade grand final.
Ryan only has to look at the past two teams promoted – Diggers Rest Bulla and Gisborne – to see what can happen.
“It’s a bit of an unknown how we will go,” he said.
“Diggers Rest Bulla and Gisborne played off in last year’s grand final, so we’re pretty excited about our chances. We’re not putting a lid on expectations.”
Ryan, who was vice-captain last season, takes over the captain-coach role from John Lane, who stood down at the end of last season.
The coaching role wasn’t on Ryan’s radar at first.
“I had a few work things going on,” he said.
“[But] I got to the point where I could take on the role. I’m really humbled by Peter [Kavanagh] and the committee putting faith in me to do the role.”
While this will be Ryan’s first coaching job, Lane will still be around the club to offer advice.
“Johnny has put a lot of hard work in, and I want to carry on where he left off,” Ryan said.
“I’ll be able to bounce ideas off him and Patty Tyler [2014-15 coach]. There’s a wealth of experience around the club.”
Ryan said it looked like Lane is the only member from the premiership side not returning to the top team this season.
“Apart from Johnny, everyone is coming back,” he said.
“We might have a couple of [former] players coming back to the club as well, but nothing is concrete.
“We’ve got a really young club, and it’s going to be a good year.”
All five Sunbury GDCA clubs have now announced their new coaches for this season.
Steve Grey returns to Sunbury United, Justin Nelson has stepped up at Sunbury, Jessy Carroll has taken the reins at East Sunbury, while Ryan Pretty will coach Ashfield.
