PORT Pirates hope the addition of several new faces will help them move out of the Mid North Coast Premier Cricket League cellar.
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The Pirates didn’t win a match in a challenging 2017/18 campaign, but coach Gary Humphreys believes that will change in 2018/19.
With star juniors such as Tom Connolly, Jared Humphreys and Connor Cook all another 12 months older, Pirates are poised to make the steady climb up the ladder.
“Our juniors will be better this year from last year so they should be a lot more productive,” Humphreys said.
Stability around the playing group will also help Pirates’ cause.
“That was one of our problems last season; we didn’t have a stable team which made things very difficult,” Humphreys said.
Ben Woodward will lead the side again when they finally get a game following weeks of rain that washed out the opening round.
“We find that young players respond to youth and Ben is a good leader with a good cricket brain so he was the natural fit,” the coach said.
Cook’s recent experience with the Australian under-16 team will help Pirates as will the confidence Jared Humphreys gained from playing at the state titles.
Pirates are scheduled to play their opening game of the Premier League against the highly-fancied Rovers at Kempsey on Saturday.
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