Tara Murray
Eynesbury’s experience is starting to come to the fore in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association Johnstone Shield.
Having fielded a young side in recent seasons, the Eagles have a few more experienced heads due to changes in personnel.
Eagles skipper Tristian Francis said those who were coming down to the club were locals who wanted to get involved.
“We have a fairly experienced team now,” he said. “A lot of the younger ones are in sub-district and the VTCA which is great.
“It’s good for the older guys to step up, local guys who are stepping up.
“Heath [Pritchard] has made a slightly larger commitment for us, which is amazing. He has experience through premier cricket and coaching in sub-district and in Ballarat.
“Cam Price has joined as well. He’s an outstanding local cricketer as well.”
While experience has shown through for the Eagles this season, the side hasn’t gone away from blooding youngsters.
Thirteen-year-old Ky Lake is the latest, having made his first XI debut in the ones as a wicketkeeper. Francis said he put in a flawless match and if it wasn’t for illness would have likely played again in the most recent match.
The Eagles got their second win of the season on Saturday, beating Romsey in a two-dayer.
The match was set up on the back of a club record seventh wicket partnership on day one of the match.
“It was a really good performance and everyone contributed with the bat,” Francis said before day two.
“We had heaps of partnerships and if you bat 75 overs it’s amazing what happens. We said before the match 280 would have been a good score, so to score 282 was amazing.
The Redbacks never got close, bowled out for 173 in the 62nd over.
Shaun Collins took four wickets for the Eagles, while Pritchard again bowled tightly conceding just 17 runs off his 10 overs.
Pritchard said before the day’s play that Pritchard’s tight bowling puts pressure on at the other end.”
Francis said the key for the side in the back half of the season was to make sure they were winning the key moments and close matches.
“Results aside from one result against Bacchus Marsh, we’ve been in the game,” he said.
“Had we taken the early wicket of Brenton Payne it probably changes the game in our favour.
“We have been thereabouts this year, but we have to win the close games. We lost a lot of close games last year.”
In the McIntyre Cup, Bacchus Marsh got the points against Woodend, while Diggers Rest Bulla lost to Romsey.
