YOUNG talent time took centre stage for Werribee Centrals in its Victorian Turf Cricket Association west B1 season opener.
The Centurions claimed first-innings points from St Andrews inside a day as their youth-driven bowling attack came of age.
Young guns Sam Crea, Nathan Johnson and Luke Allister were front and centre as the Saints were routed for a meagre 93 on the road at Pennell Reserve on Saturday.
The trio took three wickets apiece and offered the variety coach Phil Crea was looking for in a bowling line-up.
“It’s a pretty inexperienced bowling attack and that’s why it’s good to see they stood up,” he said.
“We’ve got a good combination of spin and pace.”
Phil’s son Sam is a former junior who returned to Shaws Road after a stint in the lower grades with Footscray Edgewater in the Premier Cricket.
The 18-year-old paceman will form a lethal new-ball operation with the senior member of the bowling staff, Aaron Edrich.
“It’s a good opening combination,” Phil said. “They’re going to win us more games than they lose, put it that way.”
Sam is hoping a return to his home club, playing alongside his best mates, will refuel his passion for the game after labouring through last summer at the higher level. He impressed in his first game back with 3-31 off 19 overs.
“Sam lost a bit of enjoyment in the game last year and that’s why we decided to get him back to local cricket. He definitely wants to go back and give it another crack in a couple of years,” Phil said.
Johnson finished with tidy figures of 3-10 off five overs, while Allister took 3-9 off 4.1 overs.
The Centurions’ much-publicised Achilles heel in recent seasons has been its batting. Again, they were let down by the top order, who slumped to 6-34.
Phil Crea (40), in his first game back as player-coach after a stint with Grand United in the Williamstown and District Cricket Association, was involved in a timely, game-breaking 46-run seventh wicket partnership with Luke Simpson.
The Centurions staggered to the line with one wicket in hand. Simpson (19 not out) and Johnson (7 not out) picked off the runs in an unbroken stand.
They will resume on day two with the Centurions holding a three-run lead.
Meanwhile, Point Cook graduated to the west B1 competition after years in the WDCA competition, and are on the verge of a first-up win against Kingsville Baptists.
The Travis Bean-coached side needs 124 runs for victory with 10 wickets in hand after bowling the hosts out for 135 at Angliss Reserve on Saturday.
David Hicks was the pick of the Point Cook bowlers with 3-18 off nine overs, while Troy Semmens and Joseph Farmer snared two apiece.
VTCA RESULTS
Senior division: Hoppers Crossing 7-111 v Keilor 65
West B1: Kingsville Baptists 135 v Point Cook,
St Andrews 93 v Werribee Centrals 9-96
