Tara Murray
A new-look Bacchus Marsh opened the Ballarat Cricket Association season with a strong win against Golden Point on Saturday.
With a new coach and a few changes to the playing group, the Bulls are always going to take time to settle.
While they will only get better, captain-coach Sam Crea was ecstatic with how they started the season.
“It was great to start off with a win,” he said. “I was impressed with the way the boys went about it and everyone played their role.
“We lost eight or nine players from last year and we lost four or five key players. We came together as a team.
“We got three wins out of five matches within the senior group, it was some reward for effort.”
Crea said they were expecting to have ups and downs throughout the season but that was all part of the process.
Joining Crea at the Bulls this season are his brother Matthew Crea and Jayden White-Powell, who all played at Grand United in the past couple of years.
Matthew is a left arm spinner and bat who can execute well, while White-Powell is an opening bat.
Shanin Silva joins the club from Bundoora and is an allrounder.
Crea said there would still be plenty of opportunity for younger players coming through the program.
On Saturday, the Bulls won the toss against Golden Point and decided to bat.
Crea said that would be the plan for most of the season.
They finished with 9-238 from their overs.
“We set the tone early with Jayden and Alex Porter as we went a run a ball the first 10 overs,” he said. “We put them on the back foot before they came back into the game when they took 4-20.
“We were 6-144 before Alex and Kosh McGrath batted well.
“Alex made 106, his first 100 in a couple of years.”
McGrath finished with 50 not out in just his third first XI game.
Crea said it was a testament to him to show that ability having not had many chances in the past.
The Bulls started well with the ball and had Golden Point in trouble at 2-17. Golden Point was eventually bowled out for 109.
Crea said they stuck to their bowling plan and made it hard for Golden Point to score.
Armi Wakefield, who is just 16, took 3-27 off his seven overs, while Angus Jones, who is almost 18, took two wickets opening the bowling.
Crea, who also took two wickets, said it was exciting to see the youth stand up.
The Bulls this week face Lake Wendouree.
Crea said they were excited for another challenge against one of the top sides.
In other matches, Darley beat Mt Clear.
The Lions made 181 before bowling Mt Clear out for 159.
