New Surfers Paradise captain Claye Beams confident of Kookaburra Cup success after Alberton Ormeau upset

CLAYE Beams knows better than most one game doesn’t make a season but the new Surfers Paradise captain is confident bright days await the Kookaburra Cup wooden-spooners.

CLAYE Beams knows better than most one game doesn’t make a season but the new Surfers Paradise captain is confident bright days await the Kookaburra Cup wooden-spooners.

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Restricted to a handful of second-grade appearances last season amid Aussie rules and work commitments, Beams now looms as the man to haul the Demons out of the top-flight cellar after making an immediate impact in their 97-run upset of Alberton Ormeau in Round 1.

Opening the batting, the 28-year-old posted 101 in his side’s day-one total of 305 before the bowlers completed the job at Trevor Hammel Field on Saturday to dismiss last season’s grand finalists for 208.

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A 54-game AFL star during a lean period for Brisbane between 2011-17, Beams was part of several false dawns at the Lions but is adamant there will be no repeat in his new Cricket Gold Coast surroundings this season.

“We’ve got a fairly young side - I think we’ve got a couple of 15, 16-year-olds - so it’ll do them the world of good confidence-wise to start off the season like that, especially against a quality side,” Beams said.

Claye Beams during his Brisbane Lions days. Picture: Jono Searle.

“With a young side, you’re going to have ups and downs with performances but you never know, anything can happen this year. I think we may surprise a couple.

“It’s just going to be a year where we try and enjoy our cricket and take each week as it comes. We still had elements of luck in the result, we dropped six or seven catches that should’ve been taken.

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“There’s definitely enough improvement areas (to work on) for next game. We’ve got to keep building from here.”

With rain washing out play in the other two Round 1 fixtures on Saturday, the sun shined on Surfers and the bowling quartet of Mahesh Rajaratne (3-35), Wade McDougall (2-32), Sam Willis (2-36) and Jack Charlton (2-50) cashed in.

First drop Simon Mills (53) and middle-order rock Shane Connors (57) offered resistance for the Hurricanes with a 96-run fifth-wicket stand but it was not enough to repel the Demons attack.

After managing just 56 runs at 14 during the pre-season Twenty20 competition, Beams said his 119-ball knock was a welcome return to form.

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“It was good. This year I’m looking to have a good year, especially with the extra responsibly as captain,” he said.

“Obviously I’ve had an extended break because of footy (commitments) and have missed playing ever since. With a lot of younger guys it makes it more enjoyable to rock up every week.”

ROUND 1 RESULTS

■ Surfers Paradise 305 def. Alberton Ormeau 208

■ Coomera Hope Island 81 def. by Helensvale Pacific Pines 3-87

■ Southport Labrador 134 drew with Queens 5-41