Miller Griffiths has done much of the batting work for Fire Brigade this season through three matches. Photos: Bruce Povey.
Fire equals hot.
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It was one of humanity’s first discoveries, but the equation still holds true today, especially if we’re talking Goulburn Murray Cricket.
Kyabram Fire Brigade, the Flames, are on a hot streak early on in this year’s McMahon First XI.
The club is the only side with a perfect record so far, three wins and a bye, and has last year’s champion, Moama, on its list of scalps.
That win came a week ago in round three, the Flames putting up the firewall on the Mowers’ innings, taking 6-51 to leave the champions 15 runs short.
The run continued this Saturday, a delayed wet-weather start doing nothing to prevent the Flames blazing through Rochester by 10 wickets.
Rochy crawled through the shortened 40 overs, but could put on only 81 runs in the face of a disciplined Fire Brigade attack.
In response, Miller Griffiths continued his personal hot start, finishing not out on 32, while offseason signing Jayden Rosin made his first significant knock of the year, 43 from 42, as the two openers reached the target in under 16 overs.
Captain Rob Salter said Griffiths had held his good touch from last year through the offseason.
“He's just started off where he finished last year,” he said.
“He's come a long way in the last two seasons.
“He’s got a good method at the moment and just keeps churning out the runs.
“It’s nice to have an anchor at the top of the order.”
While Griffiths has done most of the limited batting work required so far this year, making two 50s and being dismissed only once, the Flames have had plenty of contributions with the ball, Salter leading a list of four players with four wickets or more.
Cooper Fawcett took an efficient 3-5 in five overs against Rochester.
“I feel like we’re a more rounded team this year,” Salter said.
“It doesn’t feel like there are many holes, and all the young guys are that year older.
“They’ve seemed like they’re a bit more chilled this year.
“Perhaps in the past when things got tough, they were getting frustrated, and they could lose the plot a bit, but they’ve really matured this year to get things back on track and make sure they’re bowling in the right areas and putting the pressure on.”
After reaching the semi-finals in the past two seasons and leading the ladder at this early stage, the question remains how far the side can go this year under club coach Jon Varcoe.
Bohden Learmonth shows safe hands.
“The goal has always been to win the premiership, so I can’t see why we couldn’t do it this year,” Salter said.
“It’s always about developing the younger guys coming through.
“If the lower grades are strong, it puts pressure on the guys in A grade to keep getting better.
“Another big one is trying to get everyone to contribute every week rather than relying on one or two to get it done.
“You look at a team like Moama, they’re pretty strong across the board, and to win you’ve got to have everyone contributing.”
The Flames head to Cohuna this weekend to battle surprise packet Nondies-Cohuna, who have two wins from four after two winless seasons.
Jayden Rosin misses the mark on the reverse sweep.
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