Victorian Premier Cricket: Flinders teenager Sam Gove making his mark at Frankston Peninsula

Sam Gove is a driven young man in every sense, even obtaining a driver’s licence at 17 so he could chase his cricket dream at Frankston Peninsula.

Sam Gove (left) and Charlie Costa after their unconquered 218-run third wicket partnership on Sunday. Pic: Facebook

The highs and lows of cricket were embraced by Frankston Peninsula’s teenage batting ace Sam Gove over the weekend.

The 17-year-old, who lives in Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula, was excited to make his Premier Cricket first XI debut for the Heat on Saturday — handed cap 191.

But it wasn’t the start he’d dreamed of — he was out for a golden duck amid a heavy loss to Fitzroy-Doncaster.

Showing the resilience that saw him play first XI cricket with Flinders at the age of 13, Gove dusted himself off and refocused.

And the following day, he hammered 144 not out off 81 balls for Frankston Peninsula’s Under 18 side in a stunning run-chase win over Casey South Melbourne at Butler Oval in Frankston.

Sam Gove made his first XI debut for Frankston Peninsula on Saturday. Picture: Facebook

Gove said it was a memorable weekend of cricket for a range of reasons.

“I wasn’t too flat about the golden duck. I mean it happens,” he said.

“And then coming into Sunday, it was the last junior rep game I’d play with my mates and, I don’t know, I think we just went out there and enjoyed it, came out to bat and everything was going my way I guess.’’

Gove, Frankston’s U18 captain, smacked a staggering 11 six and 7 fours.

“Most times I make runs, you don’t really think about anything, you just kind of realise it’s your day and take advantage of it and play with freedom,” he said.

He shared an unconquered 218-run third wicket partnership with fellow Heat young gun Charlie Costa, who was unbeaten on 85 off 117 balls, with 7 fours.

Gove said the double-century stand with Costa was a highlight he will long remember.

“He’s a great bat, a great kid,” Gove said of Ormond product Costa.

“I’ve become pretty good mates with him. On Sunday he was the person I wanted to bat with. He got a little knee injury and I said, ‘no, you’re not going off, you’re staying out here with me’. He’s a good batsman, a good kid.”

Sam Gove batting for the Heat this season. Picture: Frankston Peninsula CC

Gove is a driven young man in every sense.

He has gone to unusual lengths to play Premier Cricket this season, obtaining a Queensland driver’s licence at the age of 17 so he could drive himself to and from cricket from his house 45km away.

Without it, he wouldn’t have been playing this season.

Gove turns 18 in April.

“I got my Queensland licence — mum has a house up in Queensland and so I’m driving now,” Gove explained.

“That’s kind of the reason I went to Frankston because I can drive myself around.”

The Heat were keen to lure Gove in the lead up to the season but he had to wait until he got wheels.

“They were texting me asking me if I was going to play and I kind of just put them off until I went for my licence up there (in Queensland) and if I got it I was going to play, if not wait another year so dad wouldn’t have to drive me around.”

Tom Gove has been his son’s chauffeur throughout his junior cricket career.

“He’s been pretty supportive,” Sam said of his Dad.

“He’s never forced me to do anything, he just said, ‘do what you want to do, if you don’t want to play, don’t play. It’s up to you’.”

With driving a car has also come maturity for Gove, who has also emerged as an excellent captain.

Frankston Peninsula Under 18 coach and ex-Test spinner Jon Holland said the Heat players respond to him.

“He brings great energy to the group,” Holland said.

“The boys really like him. He gets everyone up and about. He’s played a lot of firsts cricket at Flinders so he’s played with men and knows what’s going on.’’

Gove said he would like to captain more in the future.

“It’s been good being able to see the new players and the younger players learn more about the game, that’s all I want them to do, increase their cricket IQ and just be thinking about the game when you’re playing it,” Gove said.