Both of Cowra’s cricket clubs have still got their eyes firmly on securing finals berths despite divergent starts to the 2018-19 Premier season.
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While Cowra’s Valleys have won both completed matches, Bowling Club have struggled, dealing with washouts and personnel difficulties while failing to win a game.
While Valley’s Greg Garlick is pleased with the start to the season, he paid particular tribute to the efforts of his batsmen, Jacob McNaught and Zach Starr.
“We’ve scored runs and the top order has batted well,” Garlick said, adding his outfit has drawn from a deep bowling attack, frequently using up to seven bowlers.
However, Garlick is particularly concerned at maintaining momentum, with consistency being a big issue in years past.
“We [normally] start the year really badly and finish okay. Our biggest issue will be finishing games,” he said.
Garlick also paid tribute to the success of the Valley’s second grade Sportspower Cup side, with Brodie Graham and Ky Johnson graduating from the second XI to make senior debuts.
“[They’ve] won three from four and they’re exactly what a good B-grade team needs to be,” Garlick said.
However, Garlick isn’t setting his eyes too far ahead, with the Cambridge Cats and Royal Colts sitting at the top of the ladder.
“Both Parkes teams have started quite well,” Garlick said.
By contrast, the Bowling Club’s Marc McLeish isn’t worried despite a sluggish start, with player availability meaning the team hasn’t been quite as settled as they would like.
“The first grade side has had a few different looks over the past few weeks,” McLeish said.
Despite this, a lot of young players have also gotten a go and McLeish was keen to pay tribute to the efforts of his son Jackson, as well as Mikey McNamara, who have both stepped up to Premier level.
He also said that players like Aiden Roberts, Joseph Waters and Drew Willis have been consistent performers in the Sportspower Cup, despite a middling 2-2 start in that competition, which McLeish has attributed to players dealing with harvest and HSC commitments.
McLeish believes this growing depth will allow the club to make a charge at finals in both grades later in the season, suggesting a group mentality is forming across both teams.
“I think it will turn out just fine,” he said.
For his part, Greg Garlick still holds worries about the Bowling Club’s firepower should they make finals.
“Nick and Tim Berry are all class. The Bowling Club just know how to win big games,” Garlick said.
Both Cowra teams travel away this week in Premier grade, with the Bowling Club facing Canowindra at Clyburn Oval while the Valleys take on the Royal Colts at Woodward Oval.
