THEY started off with a small group of players, limited practice facilities and little chance of success.
But Elaine Cricket Club’s senior team is poised for a premiership tilt in the Ballarat Cricket Association after winning 10 games in succession.
The side has also blooded a future star, with under-14 Elaine/Meredith captain Angus Rowan making his debut in the final round.
This cricketing success story almost didn’t happen as some seniors players were on the verge of walking before the season began due to substandard facilities.
The club had two nets, with no actual netting, and a pair of mouldy synthetic wickets were ruined from years of bad weather. Players were forced to train in Buninyong.
Luckily, the club had a new synthetic surface in the shed, and a few of the players were carpenters by trade, so a new strip was laid.
After a shaky start to the season with four straight losses, Elaine faces a semi-final against East Ballarat on the bounce of 10 straight wins. “They laughed at us after our first loss,” president Shane Dunne said.
“But we’ve managed to train hard and now we’re a big chance to win the premiership.”
The club’s resurgence began with the success of Milo Cricket last season. As reported by the Weekly, Elaine’s youngsters sparked a cricketing renaissance in the area.
“We now have a pathway from little kids to seniors,” Dunne said.
Moorabool Council is also behind the club, tipping in $2000 for a second synthetic surface, netting and a storage container.
With both the senior and under-14 team finals-bound, the club is also looking to field a second senior team for season 2013-14.
