HOPPERS Club is lamenting a lost opportunity in the Williamstown and District Cricket Association A2 turf finals.
The Clubbers bowed out at the semi-final stage to Footscray ANA on Saturday for the second season running.
This time it was the weather, not ANA’s on-field brilliance, that brought an abrupt halt to the Clubbers’ quest for glory.
Clubbers opening bowler and match committee chairman Andrew Wilks said it was an even tougher outcome to swallow.
“We were frustrated more than anything to not even get a chance,” he said. Unlike the majority of cricket games played in the west over the weekend, the Clubbers managed to at least get on the field.
The opening day was totally unplayable due to constant rain, but a drier second day raised the hopes of the Clubbers ever so slightly of some action.
The umpires monitored the situation from 10am and with the pitch drying out rapidly, opted to start play at 3.30pm.
Three balls in and it was clear the dryness on the surface of the deck was merely window dressing for the gluey surface beneath. “Only two patches looked visibly wet and they weren’t in play,” Wilks said.
“It didn’t look too bad, but it was soft under the surface and the ball was taking divots out of the pitch.”
The 2011-12 season will be remembered as a dramatic cultural shift for the Clubbers.
This was the first summer the club has appointed a dedicated coach with Jason Bell taking on the role with a level of success.
“It’s the first time we’ve one down that path,” Wilks said. “In the past we’ve had senior guys take ownership. He’s brought in discipline at training and you can tell it’s carrying through to match days with guys putting a price on their wicket.”
The Clubbers will meet in the coming weeks to discuss a potential extension to Bell’s tenure with an announcement to come at the presentation night in April.
They will also use the night to reflect on a season of positives from a stirring run chase win over Melton South back in October to their dramatic late push for a finals berth.
