Tara Murray
Rupertswood coach Andrew Pizaro is hoping a different approach to pre-season will pay dividends in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup.
With a similar looking group to the last few years, Pizaro decided to change things in pre-season as they look to be more than competitive in every grade.
He said things were really moving forward at the club.
“This year we’ve got a different approach to training,” he said. “It’s a completely different approach.
“We are focusing on developing skills. All our sides [except the McIntyre Cup] have gone up one level.
“Our seconds have pushed into Jensen Shield. My expectation is to have more than three or four sides in the finals. We want to have a genuine crack.”
Rupo’s core group of players have returned this season, while a few players who have played in lower grades are looking to make the step up.
Rupo finished last season in ninth with two wins after coming up into the top grade as they expanded the competition to 10 teams.
“I’m persisting with what we have been doing,” Pizaro said. “No one player suddenly wins you a premiership.
“If you have two or three of them it helps, but a lot of the time it’s the ones that have been there throughout that win it for you.
With players coming through, Pizaro said they could look a little bit different in their first XI but the core group remains.
“Trent Hayes has been in the lower grades with his brothers,” he said. “He’s a talented cricketer who will be playing higher this year.
“Bradley Clapham wanted to play with us last year but had to work. He had been at Coburg and will be in the mix.
“Ned Crotty, Kyle Corcoran, Alex Bond and Daniel Kavanagh are all a year older and a year wiser.”
Pizaro said they believed they were on the right track with a lot of young talent coming through.
He highlighted their under-15 team as one to watch.
“We believe we have a lot of really good kids coming through,” he said.
“Our under-15 side is a bottom-age side and they’re playing in the A-grade division. We think we can give it a good shake up.”
The GDCA season is set to kick off this Saturday.
Pizaro said he wasn’t sure whether they would get on or not, with many grounds still feeling the effects of heavy rain in recent weeks.
He said with a return to two-day cricket, the impact of games being cancelled and others going ahead would be greater.
Many competitions across Melbourne were called off on the weekend.
Rupertswood’s first match is a one-dayer against Diggers Rest Bulla.
In other first round matches, Bacchus Marsh is to host Gisborne, Sunbury United is at home to Romsey, the Sunbury Kangaroos are hosting Woodend and East Sunbury will play Wallan.
