Eastern Suburbs skipper Jack Bennett is confident his side is ready to add consistency to their arsenal as they embark on the third year of their rebuild.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Griffins will again field one of the youngest teams in Maitland first grade competition but another year of senior competition and the addition of English recruit Toby Godfray has Bennett confident they can push for finals action this season.
Round two's clash against Raymond Terrace at King Edward Park is the perfect challenge for Easts after their comfortable opening round win against Tenambit Morpeth.
Godfray led the way with the bat making 85, with Michael Gavan giving the inning real late impetus with 52 not out after Bennett (40) and Will Stoneman (44) gave Godfray early support.
Josh Hicks had the best return with the ball taking 4-39. Cal Sargent picked up 2-33 opening with Nick Rinkin (1-46) but Sargent is not available this week and will be replaced by all-rounder Dan Stoneman in Saturday's one-dayer.
"Dan coming into the team means we effectively bat down to No.10 when Jesse Budden our keeper will come in," Bennett said.
"We have plenty of bowling options with Trent Park likely to move up and open the bowling with Nick Rinkin.
"Dan and Jack Stoneman are all-rounders, Lachie Wishart bowls, I bowl a bit of spin and Josh Hicks has been at the heart of our attack for several years.
"We allowed a few too many runs at the start of the innings last week but we struck back well and put the pressure on and picked up wickets as a result."
Bennett said it was encouraging to start the season with a strong win but the test for Easts was consistency over an entire season.
"Two seasons ago we started very well and won a few games in a row, then we fell away after Christmas," he said.
"It was the opposite last year. We didn't win a game before Christmas but finished the year strongly.
"Win or lose our enthusiasm in the field has been very good."
Raymond Terrace will also be delighted with their start to the season, setting Thornton a competitive total of 9/217 to chase on the back of Jaymes Thomas' 94 off just 74 balls. Skipper Steve Smith made 37 and John Warrington 24.
At 2/137 Thornton appeared to be cruising to victory, but Cameron Bates with 5-46 and Thomas with 3-21 combined to dismiss them for 202.
In the other games Norths host Wests, Thornton are at home to Kurri Weston and premiers City travel to Morpeth Oval to take on the Bulls.