Ocean Grove captain Fletcher Long said his side’s first BPCA A1 Grade win for the season could be the kickstart it needs.
The Grubbers defeated Drysdale by chasing down 184 for victory at Steeline Ray Menzies Oval on Saturday November 9 in the first of the two-day matches for the season.
Long said the win would hopefully spur his side on for the remainder of the season.
“I think the boys had a couple of tough weeks and obviously, we were really close against Anglesea the week before,” he said.
“A couple of rough ones at the start, but I think it was a good reward for effort. We’ve been working our backsides off at training and had good numbers so I think it was just a bit of relief.
“But it’s also like this is the standard now and this is how we want to play for the rest of the year.”
Long said morale never dropped after navigating through the first four rounds winless.
“We’ve been super positive,” he said.
“I know we’ve had a couple of rough starts, but that’s kind of the nature of the one-day game. Five or ten overs can really hurt you and lose you a game. And that’s what happened to us in the first couple of weeks.
“So I think coming into the two dayers we were really positive that our brand of cricket was going to really suit that longer format.”
English import Zac Jones followed up his 99 run out in round 4 with a mature knock of 78 from 103 deliveries.
Long said it was only a matter of time that Jones would excel with the ball.
“He’s been quite unlucky,” he said.
“He’s looked really good at the top. He’s just that bit quicker than most of the blokes in the comp, so outside edges and inside edges seem to go for four runs. I think he’s not far away from blowing away a top order and taking three or four at the top.
“Yeah, it’d be nice for him to take a few wickets, but this week Taj Wirth at the other end took the wickets and our spinners were really good. So I don’t think it’ll be too long until he makes an impression with the ball as well.”
Ocean Grove travels to Bob Pettitt Reserve to take on Jan Juc in round 6.
“We always have pretty good battles with them,” Long said.
“Obviously, Turtle (Nick Hyden) is a class player at the top, he’s always a big wicket and I think they got a couple of young kids coming through.”
Sam McGlynn put his name forward for A Grade selection with 5/36 from 15 overs in Ocean Grove’s B Grade win against Portarlington.
McGlynn’s haul played a huge role in dismissing Port for 90 on day one.
Grove then declared at 4/285 with Adam Arnold (91), Ben Hanson (55), David Turner (50) and Billy Foord-Engelsman (46 not out from 24 balls) all batting well.
However, the Demons were resolute in their second dig, finishing on 1/146 with Ash Gillett (73 not out) and Matthew Long (59) making sure the 10 points went begging.
Collendina proved too good for Grove in C1 Grade although Adam Spiby made a nice 67.
Ocean Grove lost one and won another in D Grade with Elijah Baran getting 70 in game one and Jackson Kent making a delightful 107 retired and Ray Berry 77 in game two.
