Ocean Grove Cricket Club coach Paul Jubber said this Saturday’s grand final re-match against Anglesea will be a test of how far his side has progressed since last season.
The Grubbers who went down to reigning premiers Anglesea in last season’s decider, will battle it out in their Round 2 one-day clash at Anglesea.
“We are really looking forward to playing Anglesea and testing ourselves,” Jubber told the Voice.
“We feel we have improved since last season and looking forward to playing against the reigning premiers and seeing how far we have progressed.
“We will try and exorcise a few of those demons from last season.”
Ocean Grove’s A1 season got off to a bright start after a five-wicket win over Drysdale.
The Grubber victory was highlighted by a four-wicket haul from coach Jubber, who was on a hat-trick after removing Hawk pair Nick Hallam (22) and Patrick Willis (10).
Jubber finished with 4/21 from six overs, while Tom Kent took 2/40.
The home side reduced Drysdale to 7/130. Jackson Kent (0/8) and Tom Beasley (0/21) bowled tight lines.
In reply, Ocean Grove won with more than six overs to spare and finished at 5/132.
New playing assistant coach Andre Scholtz (54) made a promising start while opener Shaun Fankhauser struck 25.
Jackson Kent (23 not out) and Jubber (16 not out) guided the Grubbers home.
However, left-arm speedster Dan Roddis faces an extended stint on the sidelines with knee surgery.
Jubber said Roddis is likely to return after Christmas.
“Dan is booked in for knee surgery and has a few issues with his knee and physiotherapist and his surgeon seem to think he will be back just after Christmas,” he said.
“We are looking forward to having Dan back in the side, but as he is fully aware he will need to do a lot of work before coming back into the side – so he has got a task ahead of him at the moment.”
Ocean Grove’s second XI promotion to A2 resulted in a four-wicket loss to Newcomb.
Batting first the Grubbers compiled 7/117 from 40 overs as the Newcomb bowlers applied the brakes.
In reply Newcomb won with six overs to spare to finish at 6/118 from 34 overs.
Paul O’Donoghue (2/17), who remained 27 not out with the bat, and Ned Thorley (2/26) each took two wickets.
Jubber said despite the A2 loss to Newcomb’s first XI, he confirmed it was a great opportunity for its up and coming players to test itself against the other BPCA clubs and their top sides.
“We are extremely excited (about A2) that it provides our emerging players,” Jubber said.
“The gap between A and B Grade last season is considerably bigger than what A1 and A2 is – that really allows our young cricketers to be playing a good standard of cricket.”
In B2, Jan Juc defeated Ocean Grove by nine wickets.
