Roxburgh Park played a match to remember, claiming a thumping victory against Barkley Street United in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s north A1 competition.
Having already claimed first innings points on day one, the Falcons were keen to push for an outright win to kick-start their season.
They finished at 5-166 with a lead of 113 on the first day, and decided to continue batting on Saturday.
The Falcons made 7-203 before declaring and sending Uniting back in. Skipper Glen Baker made an unbeaten century, while Naythan Lynch made a half century.
The Falcons didn’t need long to wrap the game up, bowling United out for just 60.
Speaking before the match, Falcons president Tyson Sinclair said an outright win had been on the agenda.
He said it would be a good boost for the side after it lost its first match.
Roxburgh Park last season stepped back to the VTCA after being unable to field enough players to maintain four Victorian Sub-district Cricket Association sides.
Sinclair said last season was about the players getting to know each other and gelling as a team. This season the club has recruited more local base membership and has some young talent coming up from the juniors.
Sinclair said part of the local focus was ensuring there was a pathway for the juniors coming through. Jaimon MacMullan and Nathan Prouse have come up into the senior program and haven’t looked out of place.
Sinclair said the club would this season continue to build on the groundwork laid last season.
With the new players coming in, the Falcons are fielding three senior sides, up from two the previous season.
“We’ll take it each week at a time and continue to build every week,” he said.
“At the end of the year, if we’re in finals then that’s a bonus.
“We want to play good, positive cricket.”
In another boost for the club, new facilities are being built at its home ground, Lakeside Oval. Works are expected to be finished in time for next season.
In other matches, Jacana lost to Caroline Springs. Needing 124 for victory, the Jaguars were bowled out for 89. Caroline Springs finished 4-197 in its second innings.
In north west division, Craigieburn lost to Haig Fawkner, while in north-west A1, Westmeadows had an outright win against
St Andrews.
