NOTHING separates them on the ladder, but that could all be about to change when Eskdale takes on Barnawartha-Chiltern at Eskdale today.
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Both teams have looked solid so far, accumulating big totals and perfect records.
But Eskdale captain Jamie Baude said he was relishing the challenge of defending Eskdale’s enviable home record and remaining unbeaten.
“We’re pretty excited about the match,” he said.
“I think they’re coming from the same place we were last year — they’re a young team and they’ve brought the right blokes into the club.
“So I think it will be a pretty even contest between two young teams.”
On paper very little separates them.
Both have notched up a score over 300 and two over 220 in their victories.
“We’re exactly where we want to be going into the Christmas break,” Baude said.
“And there’s been only one game where we haven’t batted out the overs, so we’re travelling alright so far.
“It seems to be someone different standing up each week, which is good too.”
Baude is leading the Mountain Men’s batting averages on 70, but it was Shaun Baude who has come closest to triple figures with 96 in the season opener.
Possibly the biggest advantage will be the home ground.
“We didn’t lose there last season,” Jamie Baude said.
“We do like playing there and it’s always good to be hard to beat at home.
“But we’ll come to this game and prepare as if we’re playing the best side, as we do every week.”
Eskdale has plenty going for it again as it aims to defend its premiership.
But Baude said his team wasn’t about to get ahead of itself.
“We’d love to be premiers again, of course, but the focus is to improve on last year,” he said.
“Everyone likes to win a flag, but if we improve, whether individually or as a team, we’ll be happy.”
We’re pretty excited about the match. I think they’re coming from the same place we were last year — they’re a young team and they’ve brought the right blokes into the club. So I think it will be a pretty even contest between two young teams. JAMIE BAUDE