The Hanwood Cricket Club are enjoying their strongest start to GDCA first grade season in a few years and will be looking to continue that good form when they take on Leagues Panthers at Hanwood Oval.
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Hanwood is currently sitting in third position with two wins alongside their winning draw last weekend to be sitting in third position just two points behind the second-placed Cougars.
Captain Charlie Cunial is thrilled with the way his side have started the season.
"We have already picked up as many wins, or what I consider wins than last season," he said.
"It is great for our confidence to tick off one of our goals early."
The most significant change for the side compared to recent seasons is their batsmen have all been able to get into the runs at some stage this season.
"It makes a big difference," he said.
"Early in the season it was Hicko (Brendan Hicken), and now Oliver Bartter has found his form and has stepped up.
"With the pressure off other guys have been able to get twenties and thirties which allows us to get scores of around 180 like last week.
"Last year we were getting scores of around 80 or 90, and that just isn't enough to win games."
Cunial said the feeling around the group is excellent and that is having a flow-on effect which he hopes will help them maintain their strong start.
"There has been more people at training which has been great," he said.
"With the success, we have had it seems to be creating hunger around the group, and they are able to see that the club is heading in the right direction."
This weekend the Hanwood side will take on Leagues who have endured a tough start to the season, but Cunial knows better to take a team easily.
"If we do that there is a chance it ruins the momentum we have created," he said.
It will be the Panthers first timed game of the season but will be heading in off the back of a win in their last game two weeks ago against Diggers.
The Panthers will hopefully have a few players back on deck with Ben Leach and Andrew Madden back in the fold after missing the last couple of games.
The first ball will be bowled at 1pm on Saturday.
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