Brierly-Christ Church keen for battle with WDCA reigning premier

"You get to test yourself against the reigning premier, straight up," he said.

"They're a great side, we've known that for a long time.

"We've had some great matches with them, we've got a nice little healthy rivalry with them, too."

He said the group would be backing itself to get the job done.

"We fully expect to come out and win to be honest," he said.

"They deserve to be reigning premiers for a reason but I think we've got the side that can take it up to them and we're excited.

"There's no better way to start if you can make a statement and beat the reigning premiers so we're looking forward to it."

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It comes after the Bulls made a commanding start to their Warrnambool and District Cricket Association season.

Spring Creek, which joined the WDCA this season and will play division three, only managed 9/66 before the Bulls made light-work of the run chase in Saturday's Twenty20 Cup encounter at Brierly Recreation Reserve.

Rooke rated it a solid performance and was pleased to have eight different players get a bowl.

Dev Subasinghe nearly got a hat-trick from his three overs while Jason Greer was the pick of the bunch with 3-3 and two maidens.

"We know we can rely on Fizz (Greer) with his really tight bowling and that brings wickets too, he was one of the better bowlers," Rooke said.

"I thought Daniel Hawkins (2-15) bowled well too."

Opening batsman Nathan Murphy, with his 29 not out, guided the Bulls home but it wasn't without a hiccup.

"I think it was also the first time he ran out his brother (Mark) so they'll discuss that later I'm pretty sure," Rooke said with a laugh.

"But he was really good, he's been a class batsman for a long time."

Spring Creek coach Daniel Pender said it was great for the newly-merged club to play its first official match.

Pender was proud of the way the players lifted in response to playing one of the south-west's best cricket teams.

"We definitely lifted because we were playing a division one side because you don't want to get run over and make it a miserable day," he said.

Pender said the Strikers - which are a result of a merger between Woolsthorpe and Mailors Flat - just couldn't string a partnership together.

But the group is keen to get stuck into its division three one-day competition next weekend.

"I really hope we get off to an awesome start, we've got a couple of things to work on at training obviously," Pender said.

"I reckon we're in for a really enjoyable year for the new club."

Rooke also said it was great to have Spring Creek in the WDCA.

"It was a historic day for them and it's nice that we can be a part of the whole thing and it's great to have them part of the league," he said.

"I'm sure they'll do quite well this year - they've got a good culture and had plenty of supporters here today which is good to see."

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