Two gut-wrenching close losses to start the season have put Werribee Centrals behind the eight ball in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association north A1.
The Centurions were in a position of power against St Albans at Kings Park Reserve on Saturday, but late heroics from Saints tailenders Jesse Stafrace and Andrew Pizaro in a 40-run 10th wicket partnership saw the home side steal the show.
Centurions secretary Chris Duffin said two narrow defeats – a two wicket margin to Aberfeldie in the opener and an agonising two runs to St Albans – could have a significant impact on their season.
“You can’t accept close losses if you want to stay up in north A1,” he said. “Two losses can be the difference between being relegated and playing finals because four sides get relegated.”
Against St Albans, Centurions lacked the killer instinct that saw them promoted as champions from west B1 last summer.
They had chances with bat and ball to dent the Saints’ chances but failed to slam the door shut.
On day one, when batting was difficult early on, Nick Sardi (75) and Blair Hemmingson (37) moved the score to an imposing 2-100.
Sardi gave the impression of a young batsman ready to take the next step and be a high-volume run scorer.
“He’s always been a batsman with a lot of talent, so it’s great to see he finally was able to put that on show,” Duffin said. “Making runs on a wicket that’s hard to bat on shows that you’re a good player.
“It was a mature innings to bat for the time he did. We’re looking forward to big things from him this year.”
That’s where the positives ended for the Centurions batsmen. They lost their last eight wickets for 62 when runs should have been easier to make with the old ball and tiring bowlers.
“For those guys to put us in the position we were and for the rest of the batsmen to not go on with it was pretty disappointing,” Duffin said.
St Albans’ run chase was littered with hazards, most of which were brought about by Centurions’ evergreen leg-spinner, Phil Crea, who finished with 7-41 off 24 overs.
“Our bowlers are a bit underdone … it’s not excuses, but it is reflected that when they’re up and running they’re very capable of bowling sides out,” Duffin said.
The Centurions will be desperate to get into the winners’ circle when they host
St Francis de Sales at Galvin Park in a two-dayer beginning on Saturday.
In west B1, Wyndhamvale had a massive innings and 40-run win over Beaumaris.
It was the club’s first win since its arrival in the VTCA.
The Falcons shared the workload, with Adam Walls (2-3 and 7-14), Chris Plummer (4-17), Luke Dennerley (60) and new skipper Andrew Ford (48) the keys.
Point Cook won on first innings away to Sunshine YCW, but Seabrook was heavily beaten by newcomer Newport-Digman.
