BRIERLY Christ-Church has benefitted from Nirranda’s withdrawal from the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association division one competition.
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Knights stalwart Jason Mungean, son Xavier and daughter Jacoba have crossed to the Bulls for the 2018-19 season.
Teenage prospect Jordan Rundle has also made the move.
Father-and-son duo Jason and Xavier Mungean and Rundle will bolster the Bulls’ division one side, while Jacoba will be charged with coaching the girls team.
Brierly Christ-Church batsman Nathan Murphy said the club was rapt with its new additions.
“We are a fairly young side still so to add experience with someone like ‘Mung’, who has been a fair player for a long time, is exciting,” he said.
“Xavier has come over as a wicket keeper, giving us another option behind the stumps and Jordan is a promising spinner.”
Murphy, who will lead the first month of Bulls’ pre-season training in the absence of his brother and coach Mark, said the the two teenagers could establish themselves in the top grade.
“Jordan will hopefully learn. Jason Greer is the main spinner at our club and has done it for the club for a long time,” he said.
“Xavier has the talent and has to knuckle down to succeed at division one level.”
Jason Mungean said his family was pleased with its decision.
He’s roomed with the Murphy brothers during Melbourne Country Week and has a long-time friend in Steve McCabe at the Bulls.
“We’d been at Nirranda nearly 10 years so it’s an exciting time to be honest,” he said.
“Xavier was adamant he was playing division one so when Nirranda decided to drop back, we were on the look out.
“Brierly have good juniors the same age as Xavier and Jordan. They’ll need a few years’ development as a group before they succeed, like Woodford and Russells Creek (have done).”
Nathan Murphy said Brierly Christ-Church, which will start training on Friday, was still searching for recruits.
“We’d like to pick up another batsman to add top-order depth,” he said.
“It’s one area we need to tidy up and get a steady hand at the top of the order.”
The stand-in leader said his younger brother was enjoying his stint in the United Kingdom and would return bettter for the experience.
Mark Murphy is playing for English club Hunslet Nelson.
“He’s bowled better than he’s batted but he got a century which is a good notch on his belt,” he said.