YOU did not have to be directly involved in the conversations taking place in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association west B1 to know what all the talk was about last week.
Phil Crea, the captain-coach of Werribee Centrals, had been ruled out of the top-of-the-table clash with Point Cook after receiving a one-match ban.
CLICK HERE for our picture gallery of the Werribee Centrals v Point Cook match.
It was a massive blow for the Centurions because they were missing the man who has come in and transformed them from paupers to princes with his bold new approach, a veteran who is still at the peak of his powers with 246 runs at 82 to start the season.
It was also a chance for the Centurions to show their depth and prove there is not an over-reliance on their experienced campaigner.
What better time to do it than taking on the neighbours for the right to hold top spot in the league in the middle of December?
“We wanted to show that we don’t rely on one man like a lot of people think,” Centurions batsman Chris Duffin told the Weekly.
“We tested ourselves against the best and played one of our best games of the year.”
The first-versus-second blockbuster at Shaws Road became a one-day affair after the first week was washed out. The Centurions got the chance to bat first on a scorching afternoon and posted 8-219 after a slow start.
The doubters were almost ready to drop the “I told you so” line with the Centurions at 4-43. Then Dean Cachia and Luke Simpson took the crease.
Crea might not have been on the field, but his ideals were.
“In the past, we might’ve gone into our shells at 4-43, but not any more,” Duffin said.
“They [Cachia and Simpson] put Point Cook on the back foot with positive cricket and turned the momentum of the game.”
Cachia, who returned to the club after a stint with Grand United in the WDCA, piled on 85.
He did it in an assertive manner too.
“He’s a really good young bat,” Duffin said. “He’s tall, he hits it hard, it was a powerful knock.”
Simpson made an aggressive 89 not out. To demonstrate his command, he finished off the performance with two big sixes.
The Centurions, who jumped to outright top, finished off the job with the ball.
Point Cook, who dropped a position to third, perished for 113. David Hicks (41) and Darryl Groves (19) provided the only real resistance.
Meanwhile, Seabrook remains stuck on the bottom of the ladder after a 113-run loss to Avondale Heights at Bruce Comben Reserve.
VTCA
Senior division: Bentleigh 243 (D Brown 6-69 TD Darshanapriya 3-49) and 4-64 d Hoppers Crossing 190 (D Brown 48 T Brett 39 TD Darshanapriya 26).
West B1: Seabrook 145 (R Youl 49) lt Avondale Heights 7-258 (A Dorricott 4-43 D Kilfoy 2-53); Werribee Centrals 8-219 (R Sandhu 2-53) d Point Cook 113 (D Hicks 41).
