Tara Murray
Burnside Springs United is using the disappointment of last Victorian Turf Cricket Association Russell Pollock Shield season to drive it this season.
In just its second season in the competition, Burnside made finals but a batting collapse left the side just short of its first grand final in the competition.
With the same group back again and with some key additions, Burnside coach Cass Elorza is excited about what they can achieve.
“It has been a long pre-season and we’re looking forward to getting out there,” he said before the game with Barkly Street Uniting.
“Our first year was a free hit as we came into the competition… We learned the competition and learned the teams.
“We ramped it up a little bit more with four of our five teams playing finals, all four got knocked out of the grand final.
“Our first XI team getting knocked out, that hurt a lot. All the boys straight after the game said we would regroup and be back next year.
“We had primed at the right time but didn’t perform on that weekend.”
Elorza said across the board they had kept most of the playing group. There had been a couple of retirements from the second XI, while some of the younger ones wouldn’t be available until after Christmas due to school.
Burnside has added several key recruits to their first XI side.
Isira Silva, who has previously played with Melton in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association, joins the club from Barkly Street Uniting.
He made 379 runs and took 11 wickets last season.
Mathieson King, who has played VTCA senior division with St Albans and Yarraville Club, has also come across.
He was a premiership player at Burnside in under-16s.
Third signing Armit Sandhu who joins the club from Sunbury United in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association.
Elorza said all three would play in the first XI and play pivotal roles. He said they were getting 40 at training every night.
One of the biggest things for the club this season will be having full access to both their ovals for the first time in a number of years.
“It’s a new era for the club,” he said. “We’ll have a new shirt design.
“Our ones have not played a home game in three years. It’s the first time in five years that we can have two teams playing at home at the same time.
“We’ll be able to enjoy that again without all the travel.”
On Saturday, Burnside Springs started its season.
Barkly Street Uniting was bowled out for 202 with Shohan Rangika taking five wickets for Burnside.
Burnside will resume at 5-76.
