It was an honour to skipper The Willows on the first day of the season. Arriving at the ground with the weather looking ominous, the Gore High School squad were running through some fielding drills and looking as keen as mustard. It’s a big trek up from Gore and you could sense their eagerness to get underway no matter what the conditions were like.

The ground conditions were excellent, with the pitch hard, fast and green – a real belter, the likes of which you wouldn’t find anywhere else in the country in September.

McConnell and Stewart opened the batting against brisk bowling. McConnell played within himself but Stewart was brutish from the start, mistiming a few but soon finding his range and was the first wicket to fall with the score at 85. McConnell fell 5 runs later and the boys were cock-a-hoop! From then on they really put the screws on us, with superb spells from the young spinners. We were finally all out in the last over for 192.

Our bowlers were excited to be out there having seen the pace and carry from the young whips in the Gore side. After a tight opening spell from Courtney and Raz McEwan, Stewart came on. I always love watching Grant bowl. He is one of those guys who gives it 150% every ball. He put pressure on Gore although our first wicket didn’t come until the 14th over, when MacGregor snared his first of five wickets on the day. He ended with the exceptional return of 5 for 18 off his 10 overs. Jeremy Benton also impressed, turning the ball on the green hard top and getting a deserved two wickets. The bowlers were well supported by Tim McConnell with the gloves who made three stumpings and took a couple of catches.