By Tara Murray
It was a return to form for Rupertswood in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup on Saturday.
After a hot start to the season, Rupo had cooled down a bit and dropped a few matches that had put them back with the pack.
On Saturday as it returned to the longer format, Rupo showed its power with the bat against the Sunbury Kangaroos.
Rupo president Peter Kavanagh said it was nice to find some of their early season form again.
“It was good to get back to two-day cricket,” he said. “We were going alright until the one-dayers.
“It seems to filter sides out.”
On Saturday, Rupo won the toss at Boardman Reserve and put 328 as it was bowled out in the 79th over.
Kavanagh said talking to some of the players they would have liked a few more runs on the board, but it’s a good total for them to defend.
“I think it runs on the board,” he said. “When Matt [Twentyman] makes runs, we make runs.
“Daniel [Kavanagh] made runs and Ned Crotty made some runs as well. We shuffled around the batting line with going back to the one-dayers.”
Twentyman top scored with 76, while Crotty finished 69 not out.
Simon Barry and Amandeep Singh took three wickets each for the Kangaroos.
A win would help in Rupo’s battle for a spot in the top four.
The side currently sits in fourth spot, only 0.6 points ahead of Sunbury United making every result important in the run home.
Kavanagh said the aim was to finish in the top four.
“We are looking good right across the board,” he said. “We’ve had some funny losses but are in some good positions to set up a good second half of the season.”
Kavanagh said one of the biggest things they were excited for was the youth that is continuing to come through the ranks.
One of those is Jake Howell, who made a 100, for the GDCA under-17 side during the week.
“It is fantastic,” he said. “Him playing at the top level means when he goes back to his age, he has that confidence.
“It helps playing at a higher level. Hopefully he will be around for a long time.”
Kavanagh said Ben Trainor, who was part of the GDCA under-15 Barwon Central Highlands championships team was another they were excited about.
In other McIntyre Cup matches, Sunbury United is 2-73 in reply to Broadford’s 169. Senura Perera took for wickets for the Bees.
Gisborne made 286 against Romsey in a battle with top two ramifications on the line.
In other match, Woodend is 0-14 in reply to Macedon’s 202. Youngster Henry Bobetic top scored with 59 at the top of the order for the Cats.
