WAUCHOPE RSL came from nowhere to claim the first grade cricket title in 2015/16.
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And now captain Matt Day believes his side is poised to give back-to-back titles a crack when the first ball of the new season is bowled on October 8.
“We’ll definitely be as hungry, but it’ll take a bit to get started again,” he said.
Last year’s success started in a remarkable run after the Christmas break which saw them go on a largely undefeated run to the grand final.
It started in the most unlikely of fashions – the shortest format of the game which then flowed on to the longer format.
Day knows they won’t have much time to get their eye in with a first-round match-up with the ever-strong Macquarie Hotel.
“In the first weekend we’ve got a double header against the Macca in a country plate game as well as the first round so we wont have much time to dwell on last year,” he said.
“Macca first up will be tough becuase I think they’re probably the bench mark this year so we’ll be straight back into it.”
The team has set their sights on going back-to-back although the skipper knows it will be a lot tougher to achieve than last year.
“Back-to-back would be amazing but we’re quite realistic,” Day said.
“Top two for us would be a par finish and if we can get any higher than that it would be a great achievement.
The addition of a handful of players including Jake Morgan-Monk means the RSL playing roster could be stronger than last season.
Morgan-Monk played in the Bradman Cup last year with a great deal of success.
Day felt he would further bolster the bowling lineup over the next 12 months.
“I think we’ll have more depth this year which is a great thing for us and a great thing for the competition,” the captain said.
“Jake will be the biggest addition where he’ll start to make his mark in first grade next year if not this year.”
After spending a season playing grade cricket in Sydney, Bailey Smith will return to the Wauchope setup.
“He was a Wauchope junior who gave it a shot in Sydney and will be huge with his left arm spin,” Day said.
“He goes good with the bat and spinners have a good record in this comp of taking wickets.
“We’ve also got a young guy who has come down from Brisbane after playing grade cricket up there who will be a top order bat for us.”
Day was looking forward to his second season in charge of the side after the success of 2015/16.
“Before Christmas I was ready to pass it on to anyone that wanted it,” he said.
“The experience of what we did last year will stand us in good stead if things don’t go our way early on.
“Hopefully we can get off to a better start and be up the top and not down the bottom at Christmas time.”
RSL tried to blood a selection of junior players towards the end of last season who could be ready to make the step into first grade by the end of this season.
“We’re looking towards next year as those guys being regular first graders.”