The best way to wipe the slate clean is by winning your first game of the new year.
Point Cook had a disastrous end to 2014, finishing the year in the cellar of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association west A1, but there is a more positive outlook in the camp after its shock 31-run win over finals-contending Footscray United on foreign turf at Scovell Reserve last Saturday.
“I said to the guys after the game, forget about what happened before Christmas, you can’t change that,” Warriors skipper Travis Bean told Star Weekly.
“Let’s just use this win to go forward.”
The Warriors are still last on the ladder with two wins for the summer, but the winning feeling is back and the team will take confidence from their upset win – their first since round three.
“When you’re battling, it’s great to have a good win,” Bean said.
The Warriors also have a favourable draw with three of its final four matches of the season at home. Two of these will be against sides nearby on the ladder, so there’ll be opportunity to not only build on a lowly points tally but hinder the progress of close rivals.
“There’s an opportunity there for us to try and stay out of that relegation zone,” Bean said.
“At least we have our destiny in our own hands; it’s up to us in the last four or five games.”
Point Cook’s winless streak came to an end on the back of a strong performance with the bat.
The Warriors posted 9-175 off their allotted 40 in the limited-overs match, with David Hicks (79) and Bean (50) sharing a 106-run fourth-wicket stand.
Hicks was the aggressor, picking off the United bowlers at will in what was described as a “chanceless innings” until he went out.
“He batted really well, didn’t play a false shot the whole time,” Bean said.
“When he got out, he was trying to push it on and he put the team ahead of himself.
“David’s one of our junior products; he won the best player in the first XI two seasons ago and he’s one of the most talented kids to have come through the club.”
Bean was happy to play the support act, facing the new ball as opener and surviving until the second-last over.
It was the first time he had opened all summer, having batted in a variety of spots from fourth through to eighth, and he might have found a new role.
“My role today was to try and bat through, provide a bit of stability, and it worked well,” he said.
The Warriors bowlers put the clamps on the usually free-scoring United, skittling the home side for 144.
Joe Farmer led the way with 4-39, while Alex Shanks took 3-25, including the prized scalp of Geeth Silva, who had made 142 in the previous match, for 77 runs.
“For a minute there, I thought he was going to take the game away from us, so it was a big wicket,” Bean said.
