Behind The Stumps: Warrnambool's country week side to use 'fire in our belly'

The Warrnambool and District Cricket Association mourned both Drew, who was coach, and Kelson, who was team manager, in 2021 as the respected representive cricket stalwarts passed away.

Warrnambool is still battling to climb back to the provincial grade following relegation in 2019.

Williams said his side, particularly those who had travelled away with the duo, were determined to put their best foot forward to celebrate their involvement in the program.

"This one and forever, really, it's a big week for us to represent them and to play for them, that's what's driving me and I know that's driving a lot of the top-range players," he said.

"We're really trying to emulate and bring to the table what Glenn and Ray have done for the last 10, 15 years in our playing style and to go out there and have a crack. We want to showcase Warrnambool cricket because we're good enough to do it. It's just on the day, we have to be switched on and ready."

Williams said the Hudson Shield - a separate representative cricket competition which Warrnambool is vying to win at present - was proving valuable for the association's best players to gel as one. Warrnambool has so far comfortably defeated both South West and Portland in its first two pool matches and is the red-hot favourite to emerge as the top side from the Western Waves zone.

"It's been a pretty good mix of players and a lot of guys you haven't seen a lot of over the last couple of years with COVID because there's been no country week and no real rep cricket," he said.

"To get back in there and represent Warrnambool, do it well and get the results we want is really good."

He revealed there were new faces pushing for a Melbourne Country Week call-up.

"I know the Hudson Shield is a different comp and all of that but it's opening doors for Melbourne Country Week," he said.

"You look at someone like Shannon Beks, who made 115 odd for us against Portland. He hasn't been to country week yet but has put his hand up to be Dennington's captain and is taking his cricket really seriously.

"He's certainly pushing his case to get on the bus to Melbourne."

ALLANSFORD-Panmure is playing it safe, cancelling its under 11 training on Thursday night after a player tested positive to COVID-19.

The junior attended and participated in under 11 fixtures at Mack Oval on December 12. A Gators statement said the case and their family were now isolating from the club.

"However we will take measures to cancel the under 11 training on Thursday night as a precautionary measure," it read. "In the meantime, we encourage all involved in the under 11 groups and Allansford-Panmure Cricket Club to get a COVID-19 test if you are showing symptoms."

Josh Stapleton (Merrivale) 72; Kade Parker (Allansford-Panmure) 66; Wil Hinkley (Nestles) 69; Nathan Murphy (Brierly-Christ Church) 70; Rukshan Weerasinge (Russells Creek) 49; Ben Threlfall (West Warrnambool) 45*; Ben Boyd (Allansford-Panmure) 4-34; Niahl Dwyer (Port Fairy) 4-28; Joe Nyikos (West Warrnambool) 4-11; Marcus Bunney (Merrivale) 3-8; Terry Beks (Dennington) 4-29.

Isaac Wareham (Mortlake) 76; Johno Benallack (Cobden) 72*; Shaun Drayton (Heytesbury Rebels) 59*; Fraser Lucas (Bookaar) 58, 6-43; Todd Lamont (Mortlake) 52; Jesse Unthank (Terang) 5-19; Jackson Rock (Cobden) 5-41; Stephen Hill (Pomborneit) 4-38; Tyson Hay (Terang) 4-50; Joel Moriarty (Heytesbury Rebels) 3-18

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