Melton South Primary School Cricket Club enters the Christmas break on a winning note, but not the way it would have liked.
The club was without a win in its opening five matches of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s west A1 competition, and was looking forward to taking on another win-less side, County West.
But their anticipation evaporated when County West forfeited the two-day game, handing the Royals a win without one ball being bowled.
Royals’ playing coach Blake Ivory said it had been a challenging start to the season.
“We’re feeling like we’ve been unlucky,” he said.
“We had one game in which we needed 50 runs with eight wickets in hand, and the game was called off.
“Another game was called off as we were starting our batting innings.
“It would have been nice going into Christmas getting a win on the board … validating the things we have been working on.”
Ivory said their batting had let the side down early in the season against some of the stronger sides.
He said after Christmas they have some winnable games coning up, many against sides they haven’t played before.
It’s the Royals first season in the VTCA after the side moved across from the Williamstown and District Cricket Association.
“We’re still playing a lot of the same teams [who were also in the old competition],” Ivory said.
“There’s been a little difference with some rules, the ball and coloured clothing.
“Once we play some of the new teams, we’ll have a better idea of the competition,” he said. “We have bowled well and taken the second or third most wickets. If we get our batting together, hopefully we’ll start to get wins on the board.”
While the Royals first XI has struggled, the second, third and fourth XI sides are all in the top.
The club’s F-grade side, which is an all-inclusive side, is doing a tremendous job in just its second season.
Meanwhile, the Royals have been knocked out of the VTCA’s T20 competition, finishing second in their pool.
The Royals faced Sydenham/Hillside on Tuesday night, with the winner to progress through. The Royals batted first, making 4-128 from their overs. It went down to the wire, with Sydenham/Hillside hitting the winning runs off the final ball. The Storm finished on 6-129.
Quarter-finals will be held in January.
