Premier Cricket: Frankston Peninsula makes strong start to pre-season
Several talented local players were out to impress at Frankston Peninsula’s first pre-season training session.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Heat are warming up.
Frankston Peninsula got in a pre-season training session before lockdown, with about 40 players in attendance.
Star recruits James Nanopoulos, Jacques Augustin and Akshay Kodoth were there, as were several talented players from local competitions.
Club officials were rapt to see them there.
Clyde batsman-keeper Kiefer Peries, Tyabb batsman Nick Taranto and teenage fast bowler Matt Kennedy, from Delacombe Park, all trained strongly.
Peries and Taranto previously played at Frankston Peninsula and are keen to give it another crack.
Peries spent five seasons at the Heat, managing six First XI games, before returning to his home club Clyde in the West Gippsland competition where he’s played for the past few seasons.
He’s coming off a splendid 444-run season with the Cougars.
Taranto had three seasons at the Heat between 2012-15 and has been a prolific run scorer for the Yabbies in the MPCA.
Frankston Peninsula assistant coach Peter Buchanan said it was good to see quality players return to the Heat.
“Yeah, it’s great,’’ he said.
“Why not test yourself out, if you’re good enough you’ll get a crack, if not, oh well, at least you’ve had a go.’’
There is talk that one of the MPCA’s most exciting young players, who played in a premiership last season, is also set to try his luck at Frankston Peninsula.
Buchanan said he expected the Heat to be stronger throughout the grades this season.
“We had good numbers last year but I think it will be even better this year because there are quite a few new blokes plus we’re not losing too many,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Frankston Peninsula players Brodie Symons and Luke Gandy are spending winter playing cricket with Southern Districts in Darwin.
Symons has made 250 runs and taken 11 wickets for ladder leading Crocs.
Premier Cricket: Men’s and women’s Team of the Week
Young guns lit up Victorian Premier Cricket in men’s and women’s sections. We’ve named our teams of the week. SEE THEM
Magpies double-act sends Blues reeling
A pair of Camberwell Magpies rising stars produced performances some cricketers can only dream of in a Premier Cricket under-18s game where a Carlton opponent almost stole the show.