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Raising the bat
COUNTLESS premierships in various grades and 150 years of history will be celebrated by Portland Colts Cricket Club this weekend as the club marks off another major milestone.
Henty Park will be the destination of a number of celebrations, which kick off on Friday with registrations for the season and drinks served at the bar.
On the Saturday the club will open its doors and bar for more celebrations before a formal dinner at Portland Golf Club, which has attracted over 160 guests.
A honour roll of players, which is in a similar vein to a hall of fame, from the club will also be unveiled on Saturday with at least 20 inductees.
A BBQ will be held on Sunday to wrap up the weekend of festivities. A 300-page history book of the club compiled by life member Denis Belden will also be available for purchase.
Three successful cricket products from the club in Aaron Edrich, Matthew Thomson and Anthony Englezos, who all went on to play at higher levels, will be attending alongside a former import of the club.
Clarkston Ray, who is in his third stint as Colts' president, said it was going to be an exciting weekend and a great chance for members past and present to reminiscence about their involvement in the club's history.
Making a splash
WESTERN WAVES coach Tim Bryce believes the young under 21 side he has picked has the capabilities to star this year and in the years to come.
Heytesbury star Hamish Huffadine, 20, will lead a side bursting with emerging talent when they play their first game this Sunday in North Geelong against Barwon.
Damon Cooper, Glen Moore (Russells Creek), Tyson Hay (Terang), Damon Harrison (West Warrnambool), Tyler Fowler (Woodford), Bailey Jenkinson (Geelong), Nick Robertson (Allansford), Jordy Withers, Ryan Burgess (Grampians) and Isaac McPherson (Wimmera Mallee) all feature in the squad.
Bryce, who is in his second year as the side's coach, was still deciding the side's 12th and final player after Zavier Mungean pulled out.
The Panmure all-rounder said he opted for youth with his focus on creating a strong team for the next few seasons.
"The aim is to keep the boys coming up through the under 18s together, such as Jordy Withers and Bailey Jenkinson, and not have too many over-age players," he said.
"Tyler (Fowler) and Damon Harrison are our two 21-year-old players and that means the others should be together for the next two to three years where they can learn and step up together."
After this weekend's game the squad will then play next Sunday against South East Country in Colac.
New leader, different approach
NEW Koroit division two playing-coach Brendan Gherashe has ditched the traditional training methods as his side aims to make a return to finals.
The 28-year-old, who is in his third season at the club after moving from Terang, took over the reins from Pat Sinnott.
Sinnott stepped down from the role at the end of last season and Gherashe, who was his deputy in 2018-19, agreed to take up the role after the club's external search proved fruitless.
The father-of-two, who is expecting his third child with wife Sarah, said he had adopted his training methods from his coaching course.
"They were big on getting rid of the semi-circle for practicing slips catches and they said it was 'the most hated training drill'," the all-rounder said.
"They said it was about being be fresh and getting the skills done while bringing in new approaches, which also stop bad habits."
Gherashe, who works as a handy man at Lyndoch Living in Warrnambool but lives out in Koroit, includes other ball sports like soccer and football in his training plans to help keep a freshness to proceedings.
Captain Matt Webster is expected to play his 100th game for the club if the wet weather stays away this weekend.
Gherashe said it was a well deserved milestone for the middle-order batsman.
"He is probably one of the most talented cricketers at the club," he said.
"In the nets in our training he is impossible to get out, is very aggressive and has a good arsenal of shots that us and the opposition can't do much about.
"As a leader he steps up for the big moments, has a level head and doesn't get carried away. He is a great bloke to have around too."
Gherashe hoped Webster could notch up a century in celebration of his milestone.
WDCA team of the week
Ben Threlfall (West Warrnambool) 78; Gault McCluggage (Allansford) 74*; Nathan Murphy (Brierly-Christ Church) 53*; Matt Love (Brierly-Christ Church) 40*; Chris Bant (Allansford) 32; Ryan Youl (West Warrnambool) Five dismissals - two catches, one run out, one stumping; Benjamin Boyd (Allansford) 3-8; David Heeps (West Warrnambool) 3-10; Jacob Bloom (Allansford) 3-10; Jason Greer (Brierly-Christ Church) 3-12; Damon Harrison (West Warrnambool) 3-16.
GCA team of the week
Daniel Boyle (Mailors Flat) 57, one run out; Lachlan Boyle (Mailors Flat) 52, 2-2; Sam Melican (Panmure) 42; Daniel Meade (Panmure) 41; Brayden Buchanan (Killarney) 35; Lachlan Glare (Hawkesdale) 5-15; James Reid (Wangoom) 4-8; Ben Meade (Panmure) 4-10; Daniel Jones (Killarney) 3-9; David West (Hawkesdale) 3-16; Noah Boyle (Mailors Flat) 3-19, two catches.
- Have a piece of cricket news you'd like to see featured in Behind The Stumps? Email nicholas.ansell@warrnamboolstandard.com.au or sean.hardeman@warrnamboolstandard.com.au with your tip.
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