Lalor Stars have turned to a familiar face to lead them into this season’s Diamond Valley Cricket Association Money Shield.
Opening batsman and wicketkeeper Wayne Dow takes on the coaching role for the side which lost in last year’s semi-final.
“I’ve played at the club for 12 or 13 years and see this as a bit of challenge,” Dow said.
“I’ve been thinking about coaching for the last few years.”
Buoyed by having a similar line-up to last year, Dow thinks his side will be among the challengers again.
“We got back David Worthington, who played juniors with the club, and he’ll make an impact,” he said.
“Aaron Amos was going to Melbourne Uni to play but has come back to us.
“We finished on top of the ladder last year but didn’t have things go our way with players having to pull out the day before the game [semi-final].
“Hopefully, we can get one step further.”
Dow says the development of younger players will strengthen the top two sides.
“They’re coming along well and we’re looking to have a few more younger players in those top two sides,” Dow said.
“I can definitely see one or two players making the next step.”
The Stars started the season in fine form with a strong win against Lower Plenty.
PICTURE GALLERY: DVCA: Lalor Star v Lower Plenty
After a shaky start, Alex Manoilovski and Steven Kemp steadied the side with a 172-run partnership.
Manoilovski hit a career-high 119 on the way to the Stars making 4-236.
In reply, Lower Plenty could manage only 5-161.
Mill Park and Mernda were also among the Money Shield winners.
In the Barclay Shield, Old Paradians/St Francis and Epping were victors against Lower Eltham and Rosanna respectively.
Old Paradians/St Francis won the toss and batted to a respectable 9-170 on the back of opener John Bubis’s 95.
In reply, Lower Eltham could reach only 135.
Shivinder Kanwar was the best of the bowlers with three wickets.
Epping also won the toss in its match against Rosanna, making 7-162 then bowling out Rosanna for 141.
Bundoora United and Bundoora lost their matches in Barclay grade to Riverside and Research/Eltham Collegians.
