SEABROOK’S new year’s resolution was to arrive in the back half of the season with a collective bout of amnesia.
On Saturday, the Saints went into their clash with Kingsville Baptists in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association west B1 fresh in both mind and body.
SEE: Our picture gallery of the big game.
SEE: Seabrook’s Englishman relishes an opening
They refused to be held hostage by a horror losing run that stretched all the way back to February last year, including the opening six rounds of this summer.
“The message at the start of the game was to forget about last year,” Saints skipper Daniel Kilfoy told the Weekly.
“It’s a new year and a new season for us.”
The Saints went out and played like a side with a weight lifted off their shoulders.
They restricted the Baptists to 9-165 on the back of four wickets and a run-out for James Campbell (4-33).
It was a gettable score on a batsmen-friendly Bruce Comben Reserve, but one that “scared” Kilfoy, who broke his own vow of amnesia by recalling that batting was one of his side’s weak points before the break.
“I still had faith in the boys to get the runs,” he said.
That faith was validated.
The Saints notched a long-awaited four-wicket win.
“We showed that we have the ability to do it,” Kilfoy said.
“There’s no reason why we should go out for under 100 again this season.”
Tom Carr was the glue that held the innings together.
The English import carved out a tidy 81 to figure in a crucial 79-run opening stand with David Anderson (33). Bit part roles from Ashley Dorricott (24) and Stephen Morgan (11 not out) and the Saints had made it one-from-one to start the new year.
They finished on 6-177 from their 40 overs.
“The key to the run chase was the opening partnership,” Kilfoy said.
“It was an overall team effort.”
Meanwhile, Werribee Centrals kept hold of top spot in the west B1, beating Barkly Street by 33 runs in close contest at Galvin Park.
Centurions player-coach Phil Crea (50) made his second half-century of the season and Dean Giarusso (4-21) took four wickets in the defence of a small total.
In the senior division, Hoppers Crossing would be wishing for short term memory loss after being thrashed by Beaumaris at Banksia Reserve.
