By LIAM TWOMEY
WITH a batting line up instilling fear into opposition sides, Werribee is looming as a premiership contender in the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association.
The Tigers haven’t missed a beat this season since welcoming new captain Shaun Dean and vice-captain Tim O’Brien into their respective leadership roles.
After 10 matches, Werribee sit in second place on the ladder with a 7-2 win/loss record. They are tied on points with Melton and Caulfield, who occupy first and third spots respectively.
Werribee president Ivo Havard is rapt with how his first XI side is tracking and said the players had been “batting the house down.”
“They are making 300s regularly. They are a very good batting side,” he said.
“There is lots of cricket talent in that team. We have seven in the top 50 in runs aggregate for the competition. We wouldn’t have had that ever.
“They are all chipping in and they are all doing their part, led by Shaun. His top score is 68 but he is still running third or fourth in the runs aggregate. He is just Mr Consistent. The top four are all over 250 runs for the year which has allowed us to put together some really strong partnerships.”
With finals just three matches away, Havard isn’t getting carried away with making any lofty predictions, instead just hoping his players can carry on their good form.
He identified Melton and Caulfield as the toughest competition come finals.
“They are hardened finals teams and are obviously going to be hard to beat anytime you play them,” he said.
“We probably don’t have that edge yet but you just never know.
“We will just do as we have done and get through the season and if some silverware comes out of the season we will be rapt because it probably wasn’t in our sights. It is possible because they are good enough.”
It’s not just the first XI which has been dominating for Werribee with all four of the club’s senior sides looking likely to qualify for finals.
Having ranked 14th on the club championships award last season, the Tigers now sit in fourth place.
With a number of talented players also on their way up through the club’s second and third XI’s, Havard is looking forward to an exciting few years.
“We certainly have improved to a degree and we will continue to work our way through,” he said.
“In the next five or six years you will continue to see some pretty good performances from the Werribee Cricket Club.”
In the rest of the West, Williamstown is in sixth having turned the corner on a slow start, Altona is in ninth and looking to improve, while Yarraville sits 10th despite some competitive performances.
