IT’S amazing what a good pre-season can achieve.
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With the arrival of new coach Josh Warren-Marmo and a positive outlook, Wodonga Raiders started their season in the best way possible at the weekend with a 126-run win over Tallangatta.
Although Tallangatta was missing Andrew Lade (retired), Mat Armstrong and Steve Wood, few could have imagined the Raiders could pull off such a result.
Raiders captain Kori Stevenson said a team effort with bat, ball and in the field had landed the upset.
“The win feels good,” he said.
“We put in a long, hard pre-season,” Stevenson said.
“This is our reward for a lot of hard work.
“It was a challenge made easier by Armstrong not playing.
“It was a good team contribution — if they didn’t make runs they took wickets, I was happy with everyone who played. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
The Raiders batted on a hard wicket after winning the toss.
Luke Brunow laid the foundations with a solid 32, before Warren-Marmo chipped in with 63 not out, taking the Raiders to 6-212.
“It was a hard deck so we had to put a score on the board, knowing we would have to defend,” Stevenson said.
“It takes the nerves away if you can put runs on the board.”
And that’s how it worked with the fearless Raiders as ruthless in the field as they had been with the willow.
“We held on to all our chances, we were perfect in the field,” Stevenson said.
“Last year a lot of our problems came from our fielding but I couldn’t fault anyone.”
Fifteen-year-old Liam Hocking opened the bowling for the Raiders and bagged four wickets for just 26 runs.
“He bowled tight lines,” Stevenson said.
“Everyone bowled tight lines, we bowled within ourselves, and Josh batted well — he’s been a good coach for us so far and has all the boys behind him.”