The inaugural round of the local cricket season took place over the weekend, and it was a steady beginning for most of the sides who took to the field.
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Hibo Gold picked up where they left off from last season, with a resounding victory over the Stags at Seiffert Oval.
The Stags were unable to counter Hibo’s tricky bowling lineup, and the slow pace of the wicket made the 2018/19 premiers’ slew of medium-pacers nigh on impossible to face.
“It was a pleasing way to start the year,” Hibo Gold captain Brad Smith said.
“Getting Stags out for 113 was a good way to start, I think we could’ve been a little bit better though in the field, we dropped a couple of catches.
“But I guess it was the first game.”
The consistency of the bowlers was overshadowed by Hibo’s batsmen, who chased down the target of 114 in 18.5 overs for the loss of one wicket, thanks to 39 from Tom Pender, 36* from James Armstrong, and 35* off 23 balls from Ben Staples.
“I was particularly pleased with our batting,” Smith said.
“To chase down 113, only losing one wicket in 18 overs or something was really good. Those low totals can be tricky but our batsmen showed really good intent.
“Tommy Pender, Jimmy Armstrong, and Ben Staples, they all did their job really well. That was really encouraging actually, that they picked up where they left off at the end of last season.”
The below-par fielding display is generally to be expected early in the season, and Smith confirmed that it will be a focus of his side at training over the coming weeks.
While the Stags played with heart, Smith did not expect the match to be so one sided in the end, and said that they have struggled from losing players.
“The Stags have had a big player turnover and lost a lot of their more experienced, better players,” he said.
“I think it’s a credit to them that they’ve still fielded a team in first grade and I’m sure they’ll only improve.”
The other first grade fixture, Hibo Green vs Crookwell Golf Club, was washed out.
Meanwhile, in second grade, the Workers Stags (144) were defeated by Hibo Green (7-145), Railway Bowlo (2-117) defeated Hibo Colts (112) and Goulburn Soldiers Warriors (9-312) defeated Gordon Goats (129).
