Park, Royals seek more runs in bid for first win

Collingwood Park and Royals will be looking for more runs in week three of the 2018-19 Albany Cricket Association A-grade competition as the pair face off on Saturday in the hopes of their first win of the season.

Both sides have had the bye already in the first two rounds and lost their only fixture, with the Lions going down to Manypeaks by four wickets in round 1, while Park lost by one wicket in a tense clash with Peaks last Saturday.

Park made just 116 last week and nearly defended that total but coach Matt Heberle said his side simply needed more runs to give themselves a chance of winning games.

Skipper Tim Pyle is set to headline a list of four inclusions for Park this Saturday, with seamer Ricky Weight and all-round duo Nic Barrow and Jack McPhee also returning.

“Getting 150-160 is not a big target but it gets you in the game,” Heberle said.

“Our bowling and fielding is good enough, we just need more runs.”

The Lions will regain strike bowler Dylan Holt this Saturday.

The left-armer took 15 wickets in the one-day competition last season at an average of 16 and will help strengthen his side’s attack which already features Marcus Mellon, Bodhi Stubber and import Sam Hughes.

Royals captain Jack Hastie said his side must improve quickly from their first-up loss.

“Obviously disappointed in the result in round 1 given that we were well and truly in that game and let it slip,” he said.

“We can’t afford to be going 0-2 straight away, so looking for a big effort from our senior guys.

“We are very excited to have Dylan Holt back this week.”

In other games on Saturday, Denmark will host Railways as they too look to notch their first win of the season and North County will aim to make it three wins in a row when they face Mt Barker at Turf North.

The ACA face a must-win clash against Busselton-Margaret River Cricket Association in the second round of the new-look WA Country Cup competition.

Both games will be played at Forrest Park in Bunbury on Sunday, with Albany needing a win over BMCA to keep alive their hopes of reaching the final at the WACA next month.

Albany suffered a six-wicket loss to the WA Invitational XI in the opening round in Narrogin last Sunday and will likely need to beat BMCA and then Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association to finish in the top two.

In a blow to their hopes this weekend, key bats-man Jeremy Wood and Nathan Dovey are both confirmed omissions from last week’s team, but star all-rounder Patrick Butler is a major inclusion.

The final XI for round 2 will be named later this week.

ACA A-grade round 3

Saturday, 12.15pm start

Royals v Collingwood Park at Turf East

North County v Mt Barker at Turf North

Denmark v Railways at Denmark High School

WA Country Cup round 2

Sunday, 10am at Forrest Park, Bunbury

Albany CA v Busselton-Margaret River CA