WYNDHAMVALE is a shock front-runner of the Williamstown and District Cricket Association A1 turf.
The Falcons have come out of the blue to snatch top spot with a month left in the home-and-away rounds.
You would have laughed at the notion of the Falcons being a premiership threat when star all-rounder Trent Lawford departed for North Melbourne in the Premier Cricket.
Such was his importance to the Falcons, he played a mere three games from rounds two to four and is still leading the club’s runs aggregate and is 13th on the competition’s wicket takers list.
Lawford has been a revelation in the Premier Cricket, holding down a first XI berth, taking wickets (16 at 18.5) and making runs (259 at 28.7) at will.
“He is just killing it in district firsts,” Falcons president Chris Plummer said.
“He took 5-15 on the weekend.”
If you thought his departure was going to leave too big a hole for the Falcons to fill, think again.
The Falcons have stunningly soared to greater heights since his goodbye, unbeaten in the past five games.
Their outright victory over Melton South at Wyndhamvale Reserve on Saturday rocketed them to the top of the ladder.
“I think it’s a case of all the blokes thinking they’ve got to do their fair share and not rely on one person to do it all,” Plummer said.
“The vibe around the club is quite good.”
The Falcons had added to their squad.
They brought back Ryan Radford, the man most likely to fill the all-rounder’s void.
And, in a surprise inclusion, top-order batsman Lee Veal returned after 18 months out.
He smashed 57 on return.
“It was a brilliant knock,” Plummer said. “It looked like he hadn’t left.”
The Falcons will visit Grand United on Saturday for the start of a two-day game.
