FOR a team sitting on the bottom of the ladder without a win, you might think “rewarding” is an unusual way to describe the season.
But it’s how Brierly-Christ Church captain-coach Nathan Murphy feels about 2011-12.
Port Fairy’s victory over Russells Creek last weekend means the Bulls are the only Warrnambool and District Cricket (WDCA) division one side searching for a breakthrough win.
Despite being the clear cellar-dweller, Murphy said the mood around the club was still upbeat.
“The morale’s been pretty good,” he said.
“We’re still getting 25-plus players at training and we’ve had guys there an hour before training working on their game.
“It’s been frustrating but it’s been rewarding at times too, to give some young guys a chance.”
As well as promoting up-and-comers into the club’s division one side, the Bulls’ juniors are thriving, fielding two under 13 teams, an under 15 side and an under 17 side.
They also had more than 40 youngsters involved in their in2CRICKET program.
At senior level, Murphy was impressed by the work ethic of the tight-knit group.
“We’re sticking together and we’re working hard,” he said.
“We’ve got a few older guys who we’ve brought in for experience this season and we’ve blooded seven or eight guys who haven’t played division one before and are in that 17 to 21 age bracket.
“Ben Ryan has come from number six or seven and is now opening the batting and doing a really good job.
“Tim Ryan’s been bowling and has been doing a good job too.”
The skipper said several narrow losses had been disappointing. “That’s the worst thing about it,” he said.
“We lost to West by a run, Dennington beat us by a dozen, we lost to Wesley early on by 20 runs and against Creek in the first match, we were bowling with a wet ball for 25 overs.
“The guys are doing the work, it’s just frustrating that we can’t get a win.”
The Bulls are aiming to snap their winless run in the last three home-and-away rounds in which they will take on Port Fairy (ninth), Nestles (first) and Russells Creek (eighth).
Murphy said the main goal was to improve each week, while the team also wanted to try and bat out its 80 overs in the next few games.
He did not believe there was any extra pressure on the Bulls heading into this weekend’s battle with Port Fairy.
“Now that Port Fairy has won, they probably don’t want to be the first side to lose to us,” he said. “With the way they beat Creek, they are in good form.”
Murphy said his side had not talked about the prospect of being relegated.
Brierly is expected to promote Tom Kelson to the top grade match against the Pirates after he made a century in division three action last weekend.
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