BPCA 2023: Lachie and Clay Mulgrew help Armstrong Creek to hot start to the season

Armstrong Creek is on track for another victory, and two players from the same family are leading the way this season.

Lachlan Mulgrew celebrates his second wicket with his teammates. Picture: Alan Barber

Two cousins are behind Armstrong Creek’s stellar start to the season, and they have helped put their side in a strong position to make it four wins from five games in BCA A1.

Opening bowler Lachie Mulgrew tore through Queenscliff’s top order with three wickets, leaving the visitors at one stage languishing at 8/90.

Queenscliff’s tail wagged to set a competitive total of 169 from 61 overs as Tom Kidd made 38 at No. 10, but Armstrong Creek openers Clay Mulgrew and Chris Marsiglio steered the home side to 0/35 at stumps.

It means Armstrong Creek need just 135 runs to notch another win – one victory shy of their five-win season last year – with coach Daniel Maclean saying Mulgrew’s early interventions were critical.

He said Mulgrew, who finished with 3/10 from 9 overs, has been a surprise packet this season with the ball as Armstrong Creek’s leading wicket taker.

Meanwhile, his cousin Clay is the top runscorer in the competition with 217 and has the chance to add to that, starting next weekend 12 not out.

Lachie Mulgrew took three wickets. Picture: Alan Barber

“Lachie Mulgrew at the top was really good for us, took three wickets in a matter of two overs I think, a really good start for us. All of our bowlers bowled well to be fair,’ Maclean said.

“Mulgrew has been a surprise packet with the ball, I think he’s taken our most wickets. Sometimes he has been really unlucky but he has been rewarded for his efforts this year.

“Clay Mulgrew has had an excellent start to the year. Him and Chris Marsiglio have put on 80 two or three times already and then 0/35 again, so those two together at the top of the order is going to be crucial for us.”

Currently sitting second on the ladder with tough clashes against first-placed Anglesea and Barwon Heads in the next two rounds, Maclean said a big win over Queenscliff would be valuable.

He believes the competition is even better than last year and said the promoted Barwon Heads is a major threat.

“It’d be massive, we have Anglesea in the coming weeks, Barwon Heads as well and then Anglesea again after that so we’ve got a tough run of cricket in the next few weeks so banking a few wins up early is always good,” Maclean said.

“You see (Barwon Heads) are a serious threat, they look very damaging with the bat. It is a very even comp this year.”

Originally published as BPCA 2023: Lachie and Clay Mulgrew help Armstrong Creek to hot start to the season