The 2008/09 season started last weekend and initially things didn’t look all that great for the Crows with our new coloured playing shirts not arriving and new Coach Jamie Knott being unable to play. From thereon however it was all good as A and B grade recorded good wins and C grade got the points via a Ranelagh-Grove forfeit.

A grade travelled down to Snug where stand in captain Levi Treptow won the toss and elected to bat. As is often the case on the Snug oval, it was difficult to score at any significant rate but we managed to reach 9/167 off our 50 overs. The innings was held together by former coach Dan Elliott who batted virtually through the innings in making 76. His innings comprised 2 4s and 3 6s and was achieved despite having the extreme discomfort of a badly bruised big toe. Andrew Henley was the only other batsman to pass twenty as he scored 21.

In reply opening bowlers Nick Townsend, 3/30 and Dale Punshon 2/18 soon had Snug in all sorts of bother and they were never going to recover from being 6/29. Young Snug batsman, Dylan Keating, showed terrific promise and made our bowlers work very hard to get the remaining wickets. We eventually dismissed them after 30 overs for 79 with Shannon Woolley and Andrew Henley picking up 2 wickets each. Shannon could consider himself very unlucky not to pick up the first Hat trick with the white ball when James Murray dropped a simple catch at Mid off.

B grade took on Slab Road at home in a replay of last years Grand Final yet there was probably only a couple of players remaining in each team who participated in that match.

Batting first our top order batsman could never get on top of their attack and lost wickets every time we showed any sign of doing this. At 6/121 we were in a fair bit of trouble but young Manning Parkinson, 39, then joined Mal Godfrey, 115, and these two added a match winning 7^th wicket partnership of 125 that enabled us to reach 265 when we were dismissed off the final ball of the 50^th over. Although they both enjoyed a fair share of good luck it was Mal’s maiden century and his innings comprised 14 4s and 4 6s. It is also great to see his performance as he has taken on the position of Club Secretary this year. Andrew Downie chipped in with 21.

As anyone who has ever played against Slab Road B grade would know, they are never out of the game while Adam Coad is at the crease and this again proved the case. He played a typical innings and most of our bowlers suffered until he was bowled by Gab Le fleur for 78. With new pace men Anthony Lean taking 5/39 in a great performance and Chris Tomlin 3/58, including a brilliant catch off his own bowling, we were able to dismiss the opposition for 222 and start the year off with a solid win.

As mentioned the C grade game did not eventuate as Ranelagh-Grove forfeited and that gave all 3 teams maximum points in Round 1 and the perfect start to the season. That said this weeks games are another week and we will need to refocus on what is in store for us in all grades.

It is great to see an influx of players to the Club of players in the 16 to 21 year age group. Many of these lads have a lot of talent and our coaching staff has a lot to work with.