Tara Murray
It’s been a frustrating start to the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division season for Keilor.
The Blues were without a win after five rounds, with just two matches completed in that time.
Rain has meant some games were called off completely and others called off half way through.
The Blues bowlers have bowled just twice in the first nine days of play.
Blues coach Duncan Harrison said there wasn’t much they could do about it.
“It hasn’t gone to script so far,” he said. “Our bowlers are fresh as we’ve had a lot of half games.
“The ones that have been washed out have been in a reasonable position, which makes it more frustrating.”
Harrison said they’d had some solid performances with the bat but as a coach he always want more.
The team has scored more than 200 in all but one innings. One of their losses came in the final over against Westmeadows.
“It has been pretty solid,” he said. “We have a couple of guys that have started well and had some consistency with the bat.”
The Blues lack of play has also fallen into the T20 competition.
They had a bye in round one, before round two was postponed.
Their rescheduled round two match was played on Tuesday night, with the side losing to Sunshine.
The Crows made 6-122 before the Blues were restricted to 8-104.
Matthew Gaskett was the pick of the bowlers for Keilor with three, while Robert Clements top scored with 22 at the top of the order.
Harrison said they try to keep it as interesting as possible with the lack of play.
“You can’t control it,” he said. “You have to prepare as you are playing.
“The guys have been pretty good. We have a young bloke in the seconds that has batted once.
“He hasn’t batted since the Sydenham game.
“It’s hard to keep him interested after 10-12 weeks. It’s about making training fun as much as we can and varying things up.”
The Blues are set to face Craigieburn in a Saturday-Sunday clash.
The Eagles also enter the match without a win and keen to get on the board.
Harrison said the task for them was just simple.
“It would have been nice to have got a couple of wins,” he said. “Looking at the season you definitely want it in our own hands.
“We need to start winning, hopefully we can get some wins.”
While the men’s side has struggled to get on the side, the women’s side has had a bit more luck.
The side was in fifth spot in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association Georgie McElligott Shield after eight rounds.
Harrison said it was more of a mature side this season after losing another lot of young players to Victorian Premier Cricket.
