Hannans resuming on top but skipper not resting on his laurels as changes loom

Hannans’ bright start to the Eastern Goldfields Cricket Association’s A-grade campaign has been a case of so-far, so-good but captain Matt Ralph said there was no room for complacency when the team resumes on Saturday for round nine against Great Boulder.

In a match-up of the competition’s top-two at Wallace Park, Hannans lead the way with five wins.

But their advantage over the Two Blues is just one game as each of the teams prepare to negotiate a staggered return to domestic fixtures – ahead of general byes on each of the following two weekends due to senior country week in Perth.

Ralph’s worries about consistency – not just in performances but also selections in a notoriously challenging period for all clubs to field their best teams – are justified with third-placed Lake View within a game of Great Boulder.

Similarly, last-placed Norths trail Lake View by one game – ahead of a top-three finals series when the minor premiers advance straight to the grand final.

Norths were last season’s premiers.

“It took us a couple of games to get going and find our rhythm,” Ralph said.

“Things now seem to be flowing nicely, but it’s pretty clear that there aren’t any easy matches.

“It’s all hard work and they (Great Boulder) have a really strong batting line-up .

“It just means that we have to be so disciplined every weekend while trusting the plans and processes that we’ve developed over the season so far.”

Ralph confirmed on Friday that first-choice wicketkeeper Brandon Williams had returned to Perth.

“Brandon’s a big out for us because he’s been a high run-scorer whose anchored the middle-order,” he said.

“Unfortunately, he’s gone for the rest of the season, but our new ‘keeper will be Martin (Potsekayi) who is a former wicketkeeper himself and has done a lot of work over the Christmas break, to get himself ready to go.

“We’re missing (O’Shaughnessy medallist) Graham Kennedy as well, who’s interstate for the national country championships, along with a few others, just for this game.

“We’ll go in a little bit short on numbers.

“But that said, we haven’t had to rely on GK in every single match to perform (because) we’ve had some standout performances by others who’ve really stood up.

“I think the players have confidence in themselves, too so it’s purely a case of us hopefully playing good cricket.”

Both A-grade games start at 10.30am with the Norths v Lake View clash at Ray Finlayson Sporting Complex.

Saturday’s round is the first of seven left in the qualifying series, with the teams finishing second and third meeting in an elimination final for the other grand final spot.

Round 10 will be played on February 1.