Elliot Stevenson
Clarence will aim to build on last week’s breakthrough victory as it travels to the TCA Ground to face North Hobart on Saturday in week three of the CTPL season.
The Roos successfully chased down South Hobart-Sandy Bay’s 7-207 with 17 balls to spare last weekend to procure their first win of the new season but will face a new challenge against a hungry home team.
Clarence coach Shane Holland was relieved to add some points next to his side’s name on the CTPL ladder.
“It always makes things a little more enjoyable when you can get a win,” he said.
“It was very good for the group to get in the winners’ column.
“The win was nice after not quite getting over the line in the first week.”
Holland joined the Roos in 2022 as an assistant coach and player from Kingborough and is relishing the opportunity to coach a 1st Grade team.
“It’s been good taking on the role, trying to change a few things and to give them a new look and fresh voice,” he said.
“It’s all been really exciting and enjoyable.”
Holland’s first win at the helm came courtesy of a vintage innings from Justin Galeotti (91 not out off 145 balls), who returned to the club during the preseason.
“It is really good to have [Galeotti] back in our team, from both a leadership and experience perspective, but also just someone that wants to get the best out of himself,” Holland said.
“He had a good couple of seasons in Victoria since he was last at the Roos.
“He’s looking to make his game better and perform for us, lead by example as well as leading the troops in his captaincy role.”
The Roos will face North Hobart this week, a side that fell short against the table-topping Greater Northern Raiders in a rain-affected affair in Launceston last Saturday.
The Demons will be without Caleb Jewell and Jordan Silk, who are busy with Tasmania duties, Raf MacMillan and Iain Carlisle.
While new recruits Mac Wright and Ben McDermott will appear for Clarence.
Holland is seeking consistent improvement from a Clarence side that finished last season in fifth place.
“We’re just looking to improve week-on-week,” he said. “It was great to get a win on the weekend, but there are a few things we can still tidy up with the ball and in the field in particular.”
“We need to keep stacking good performances together and hopefully that equates to stacking wins together as well.”
Lindisfarne will be aiming to continue its undefeated start to the season when it welcomes reigning premiers University to Lindisfarne Oval.
The Lightning have opened their Kookaburra Cup campaign by defeating Glenorchy and New Town, sitting second on the CTPL behind the similarly unbeaten Greater Northern Raiders.
After losing both Mac Wright and Ben McDermott to Clarence in the offseason, Lindisfarne’s star factor appeared to have taken a hit.
However, Nathan Ellis joined Tasmania Tigers teammates Charlie Wakim and Marcus Bean last weekend to help down the Bucks by 30 runs – a strong indication the Lightning have what it takes to contend deep into the season.
But both Ellis and Bean are unavailable this week.
University is still seeking its first victory of the season, having lost to Kingborough in Round 1 and having the bye last weekend.
Zac Phair is one to watch after his unbeaten century against Kingborough a fortnight ago.
Another winless side chasing its first points of the season is South Hobart-Sandy Bay.
The Sharks have been unable to defend totals of 200 and 207 in consecutive weeks against Greater Northern and Clarence but will have a chance to make amends when they face New Town this weekend.
The Bucks have displayed their ability with both bat and ball across the opening two matches, including lower order half-centuries from Tom Luchetti (53 not out off 77 balls) and Tyler Willmott (56 not out off 63 balls) in last Saturday's loss to Lindisfarne.
Kingborough will be eager to bounce back against Glenorchy this weekend, following its loss to Greater Northern last Sunday.
The Knights began the year with a statement against reigning premiers University, before falling short by 79 runs at Invermay Park in their week two matchup.
Young star Zac Curtain has begun his season in stellar form, with scores of 97 not out off 125 balls and 46 off 32 balls.
Glenorchy fell to Lindisfarne in Round 1, before having the bye last weekend.
In the women’s competition, the T20 season continues with a quartet of games to be played on Sunday.
Kingborough will be aiming to bounce back after failing to win either of its games against North Hobart last weekend.
The Knights travel North to face the Greater Northern Raiders at the NTCA Ground in a white-ball double-header.
The Raiders will be hampered by the losses of Sydney Sixers duo Emma Manix-Geeves and Courtney Sippel as preparation for the WBBL begins.
Greater Northern sit third on the CTPL ladder after splitting the points with Clarence in week two, with Manix-Geeves and Sippel carrying much of the load with the bat, scoring a combined 211 runs.
Kingborough, meanwhile, will continue to be without Sara Kennedy as its reassimilation to 1st Grade continues.
New Town will host Clarence at New Town Oval, with both teams looking to stay within striking distance of ladder leaders North Hobart.
The Bucks enjoyed a week off last weekend, having travelled to the Twin Ovals in the opening round to mixed success.
Kathryn Bryce (118 not out off 69 balls) starred for New Town in the opening game but will be unavailable this weekend alongside Tigers teammates Lizelle Lee, Amy Smith, and Callie Wilson.
Clarence has split games with both North Hobart and Greater Northern as it vies for further consistency of performance this weekend.
Tabatha Saville has been a standout for the Roos, scoring 172 runs while only being dismissed once across four games, as well as leading the run scoring in the competition.