Red Caps chase fifth consecutive win
WENDOUREE is as hungry as ever as it chases a fifth-straight Ballarat Cricket Association club firsts premiership.
The Red Caps kick-start their title defence when they meet Darley in the opening round of the season at Learmonth today.
Wendouree captain Heath Pyke said past results meant little at the start of a new campaign.
“This pre-season, I honestly could not remember anybody mentioning the fact that we have won four in a row or anything like that,” Pyke said.
“It has been business as usual heading into another pre-season and long, grinding season.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s this year or whether it’s the Wendouree side five years ago, each season you head into it on an even keel with the opposition sides.”
Wendouree has retained all of its first 11 premiership side from last season, with opening-round absentees Eamon Johnson and Grant Bell pencilled in for a round two return.
Pyke said his team was well placed to perform in 2012-13.
“We are as confident as you can be heading into a new season with a lot of unknowns in front of you in terms of opposition sides, their personnel and what they’ve recruited,” Pyke said.
Club firsts, seconds, thirds and fourths launch the cricket season this weekend before district division one, two and three competitions, as well as the BCA junior grades, open with one-day clashes on October 13.
The district division fourths have been abandoned due to a lack of numbers.
The three sides still remaining will join six club teams in the fifths, with this competition, played as solely one-day fixtures, to commence on October 20.
tim.oconnor@thecourier.com.au