Melton showed plenty of resolve on Saturday led by one of its veterans in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west.
Coming off a couple of disappointing results, the Lions showed against Altona how far they had come this season.
The Lions were on top for most of day one, with a couple of wickets providing Altona some hope late in the day.
Lions’ coach Damian Costigan admitted that in previous seasons the group wouldn’t have fought back the way they did on Saturday.
“I was very pleased,” he said.
“This group has been unbelievable. The numbers at training are still high and I’ve never questioned their effort.
“They are starting to believe that they can do it every week.
“It’s been a disappointing couple of weeks but there has been improvement.
“They way that the firsts have bounced back, I’m pleased for them and pleased for the club.”
On Saturday, the Lions won the toss and decided to bowl.
They were able to bowl Altona out for 160 in a pleasing performance according to Costigan.
“We’ve bowled well for most of the year,” he said.
“I think against Altona, which is a top six, is a really good effort for the boys to roll then for 160.
“There’s always going to be a partnership in cricket and we would have liked to have finished them a bit earlier.
“To finish the job off for 160 we were still happy.”
Brad Jones was the pick of the bowlers for the Lions, taking 6-45 off 20.2 overs.
Costigan said Jones is battling a knee issue and has his load managed at training, but each week shows the way.
“He is a star,” he said. “He amazes me the way goes out there with the way his body is and still takes wickets at this level.
“He had ice on his knee at the tea break and then he goes back out there and gets more wickets.
“I’m in awe of him and he was well backed up by the others.”
The Lions didn’t have the start they wanted with the bat.
They will resume at 2-11. Ben MacRae will resume on zero, while Archie Cairns will resume on one.
“You don’t want to lose any wickets,” Costigan said. “They bowled well.
“We’ve still got eight wickets and close to 150 to get. If we can bat well and bat time we should get them.
“Ben is important but he needs others to bat with him. We’re confident that we have the batting to get it done.”
Costigan said it was a tough weekend for their other sides.
