Woodend had a confidence boosting win against Sunbury United in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup on Saturday.
Having lost twice to Gisborne before the Christmas break, Woodend was keen to start 2025 on a winning note.
Woodend was pushed hard by the Bees but were able to come away with the win.
Woodend coach Josh Eastley said it was a really important result for the group.
“After two losses to Gisborne before the break it was a key for us to start well,” he said. “It was good to bounce back with a solid team effort with no one standing out.
“That has been one of our strengths this season with seven or eight that can bat.”
Woodend batted first and made 9-222 from its overs.
Eastley said they thought anything above 200 would give them a shot at the win. It proved to be just enough.
“They were bowled out with an over to go,” he said. “They were about 15 runs short.
“Fabian Fernando got away from us a little bit and put on 80 or 90, we managed to get his wicket when they were still 20-30 runs short.”
Eastley said once they had the wicket of Fernando they thought they would be able to complete the job with two new batters at the crease.
Woodend sits in third spot as the season starts to hot up with finals on the line.
Eastley said they had taken a lot out of the Gisborne games as they face their toughest part of the season.
“We have a tough period before and after Christmas against the best sides, which we know we want to be around them,”he said.
“We’ll keep working and keep building.
“Romsey this week will be another test for us. They are a quality side and we know it will be a hood game of cricket.
“We have to be at our best to beat them.”
Eastley said one area they will focus on in the back part of the season, was making sure they had the believe that they could get the job done.
He said Saturday’s result against the Bees was the start of that.
“We need to start believing we can win from any position,” he said. “We have to stay in the game and we ready to pull through.
“We showed that yesterday [on Saturday]. We kept going and got Fabian wicket and got control of the game from there.”
In other results, Gisborne and Romsey both had big wins.
The Dragons made 9-219 before restricting Broadford to 184. Romsey made easy work of Rupertswood, finishing 2-121 in reply to Rupertswood’s 120.
Macedon got its second win of the season, accounting for the Sunbury Kangaroos to move into sixth spot.
