Sport
16 January, 2024
Bulls look to improve
Round nine of the Horsham Cricket Association resumes this weekend with Blackheath Dimboola facing the Bullants at the Dimboola Recreation Reserve in a one day match.
Currently sitting sixth on the ladder with two wins the Bulls are unlikely to play finals but with four matches left, including three two-dayers, captain Sam Leith wants to see improvement.
"It is going to be a test against the Bullants this week. They are a really good outfit," he said.
"They beat us convincingly when we played them earlier in the season so we will look to improve.
"We will have a couple players out including Jake McLean and Brodie Cramer but we will still have a half decent side."
Leith is leading the way as their top run scorer with 254 runs at an average of 36.29 and Daniel Polack is sitting second on 245 with an average of 49. Along with Sam Polack with 91 runs, the three are the key to the Bulls batting.
Leith is hoping at least one of them can bat for a long period during the innings to put up a good score for their bowlers to defend.
Jake McLean, Elliot Braithwaite and Sam Polack are leading the way with five wickets. Sam Polack is sitting just behind them on three. It will be up to Braithwaite and the Polack brother's to continue to bowl well.
With players still missing, it gives a few young players more of a chance to impress and Leith said that whilst they are going to be tested, it will be interesting to see how they perform.
"With the two dayers coming up we have some younger talent there that is going to be tested like Jordy Laverty, Archer Laverty and Malcolm Barry," he said.
"They are going to get a lot of opportunity at batting and bowling so it will be interesting to see how they perform."
In the match of the round, the fourth placed Tigers face ladder leaders Homers at Horsham City Oval.
Homer's captain Adam Atwood is happy where they are at but says they can't be complacent.
"The young boys are doing a good job so we need to make sure we don't get too complacent and work harder than we ever have," he said.
"The boys are bowling well. They are bowling straight at the stumps which is good. The wickets around here have had water from the Christmas rain so it will be interesting to see how they play."
At Cameron Oval, seventh placed Laharum play West Wimmera Warriors.
The Warriors lost their last game in an upset to the Horsham Saints but with a full squad now available following harvest they will look to get momentum happening.
Captain Jeremy Weeks said it's good to see a lot of competition at the top of the table.
"The Homers boys are having a good season, the Tigers are going well and you can't rule out the Bullants," he said.
"We are going alright and we are going to get stronger so hopefully we can get into the finals and go from there.
"I think the new format with eight teams is working well as it seems to be more competitive."
In the other match, fifth placed Horsham Saints host bottom of the ladder Lubeck Murtoa at Coughlin Park.
B Grade also resumes this weekend whilst C Grade returns on the Australia Day long weekend.