Narre South coach Matt Brooks says the Lions return to the finals hunt is twofold
Narre South is now vying for a place in the DDCA Turf 1 finals and coach Matt Brooks places accountability on two variables. Here’s what they are.
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As his side makes a late dash to the Dandenong District Turf 1 finals, Narre South coach Matt Brooks is confident the reason for the Lions’ form turnaround is twofold.
According to Brooks, the Lions – who held just one win at the Christmas break – have swung their season off the back of the youngsters finding their feet and the remarkably consistent contribution from former Sri Lankan star Jeevan Mendis.
“I think after Christmas we have been much better, it’s a pretty new group so in the first half of the year they didn’t really gel,” he said.
“It just took a bit of time as a new group usually does, we have three or four top end players, but our young players have really seemed to find their feet at this level.
“Ethan Kolaritsch and (Joshua) Hotston have come in and really found their feet at this level and, the likes of (Jeevan) Mendis and (Jonty) Jenner have lifted after Christmas and we have started to gel.”
Despite having just three wins, the Lions’ victory over North Dandenong on Saturday has propelled them into finals contention.
That win has trimmed the gap Narre South, now sitting just a win behind North Dandy with a far more complementary draw in the final two rounds.
The Lions will face Parkmore Pirates (eighth) and St Marys (seventh), while the Maroons will play Hallam Kalora Park (second) and Berwick (sixth).
While Brooks trusted the process of his side clicking, he admits there was some “frustrating” moments.
“It was a frustrating first half of the year especially because we didn’t really get the output from our better players,” he explained.
“We’re at the back end and we’re starting to see a bit more results, touch wood, going into the last few games hopefully we have more results and a few more go our way.
“We have had two or three not go our way, we were in positions where we really should’ve been winning those games.
“The boys have been pretty positive, on the weekend – it’s always tough at North Dandy they play that ground well – we managed to tough it out.”
Jeevan Mendis’ 56 not out and two wickets steered the Lions to their five-wicket win, adding to an already exceptional season.
“He’s just a class above this standard of cricket, Jeevan,” Brooks said.
“It took him two or three games to find his feet but he has been outstanding for us with bat and ball.
“I guess the one-day format kind of restricts him a bit with how many overs he can bowl and batting wise, but every week it seems he get two or three-for and 50 or 60, he would be up there in the top two or three players in this comp.”
Elsewhere, Springvale South continued its enchanting run by defeating arch-nemesis Buckley Ridges.
Bloods hurry-master Jordan Wyatt punished the Bucks bowlers to all parts in a dazzling 81 from just 65 deliveries.
His knock scooted Springy South to 8-265 which eventually proved too great for the Bucks, who fell to 10-179.
Hallam Kalora Park (3-243) defeated Parkmore Pirates (10-107) and Berwick (4-162) overcame St Marys (7-158.
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