TWO head coaches have been named at Len Trewin Reserve for the 2022-23 season as St Leonards Cricket Club enters a landmark 75th year in the seaside town.<\/p>\n
Gary \u201cPud\u201d Egan and Steve Grey have been appointed as senior head coaches for next season\u2019s women\u2019s and men\u2019s First XI sides following a historic 2021-22 fixture.<\/p>\n
Egan\u2019s decision to coach on another season as St Leonards Women First XI\u2019s coach was a no-brainer after the female program\u2019s inaugural season.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast season was just really rewarding for me personally,\u201d Egan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way the players came from nowhere, first year players with no experience, was astounding.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir enthusiasm was so infectious and their want to learn was comparable to a sponge, asking questions upon questions, every day it made it so easy to want to coach that side last season and it made me want to do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n
St Leonards\u2019 first senior women\u2019s side was slotted into D Grade by the Barwon Women\u2019s Cricket Competition (BWCC) with fellow Bellarine clubs such as Ocean Grove and Queenscliff.<\/p>\n
The season went off without a hitch across the 10 games. St Leonards remained the only undefeated side up until finals.<\/p>\n
A hard-fought win over Jan Juc in the semi-finals had set up a battle of the best two sides in the competition with Bannockburn.<\/p>\n
However, a strong showing by Bannockburn\u2019s openers was enough to give St Leonards its only loss of the campaign.<\/p>\n
Despite the team\u2019s grand final loss, Egan is adamant the squad achieved something more valuable than a premiership that year.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting more women into the club was the best thing that has happened here in more than 20 years,\u201d Egan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot only on the field, but also off the field, the way they have embraced the club is phenomenal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the way any cricket club should move forward, by getting more women involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grey will take over the role as men\u2019s coach for season 2022-23 season, using the women\u2019s success from last year to motivate his side.<\/p>\n
\u201cPud\u2019s side were training twice a week last season putting in the hard yards and look where it got them, while the men trained only once. Things like this will be what I\u2019ll be pushing next season,\u201d Grey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe women last season brought a wonderful culture with them to the club, and we will look to build on that.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn my end personally, I\u2019m just so excited to get in and start working.\u201d<\/p>\n
St Leonards is currently on the prowl for recruits to gather a third men\u2019s side and a second women\u2019s side.<\/p>\n
Grey also noted the club is in the process of getting a junior program up and running for next season in either an under 15s or under 13s age bracket.<\/p>\n
Any families or individuals interested in getting involved with the club are encouraged to reach out at stlcc1947@gmail.com.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TWO head coaches have been named at Len Trewin Reserve for the 2022-23 season as St Leonards Cricket Club enters a landmark 75th year in the seaside town. Gary \u201cPud\u201d Egan and Steve Grey have been appointed as senior head coaches for next season\u2019s women\u2019s and men\u2019s First XI sides following a historic 2021-22 fixture. […]<\/p>\n