Tara Murray
Taylors Lakes will take plenty of positives out of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association season.
While the first XI finished second bottom and lost its last 10 games, the Lions showed massive improvement across all the grades.
President Rob Arnold said they were thrilled with how far the club had come this season.
“We were looking for improvement on last year when our first, second, third and fourth XI,” he said.
“We’re proud to have won 25 games. Last season we won two in total across those four sides.
“Our firsts won only three games, but should have won a couple more. Our seconds won eight games and finished one and half games top side the top six. Had we won the last couple of games we would have been playing finals.
“The thirds won nine games and played in a semi final. The fourths were similar to the seconds, missed out by one win and had the best percentage of all the teams.”
Arnold said there had been a real influx of players across the club which had helped strengthen all the teams.
The Lions fielded six teams this season, up from five the previous season, due to the increase of numbers
The sixth XI, which was the fifth XI last season, won back-to-back premierships in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association.
“We had a real good influx of new players from surrounding clubs,” Arnold said. “We had four players who had played in our Craig Shield team previously join us this season.
“Two of them were 18-plus and had been part of our that team three or four seasons ago. It’s a good breeding ground.”
Arnold said they had already started looking at ways to improve their first XI.
After going winless last season, the side looked good in the early part of the season.
But no wins after Christmas meant they fell away quickly.
While the side put out some strong performances with the ball, they were let down by the batting.
“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see our batting was our weakness,” Arnold said.
“It’s something we are working through. Hopefully we can pick up a a couple of quality batsman and it will hold us in good stead for next season.
Arnold said the likes of Trent Waring, Buddhika Janith, Kaidin Jackson and George Sakkas had already said they would be returning next season.
Tara Murray
