Panthers need young guns to fire

By Paul Pickering
DANDENONG captain-coach Warren Ayres this week announced that the Panthers would look to their trio of gifted teenagers for inspiration on the eve of the Premier Cricket finals.
After an emphatic 156-run loss to the Ringwood Rams on the weekend, Ayres challenged the Panthers’ young guns to kick-start Dandenong’s tilt at back-to-back premierships.
Ayres, who was far from deflated by the loss at Ringwood’s Jubilee Park, predicted that emerging stars Brett Forsyth, Kumar Sarna and James Pattinson would be the X-factor in the Panthers’ post-season.
“We’re getting to the business end of the season and this is where we were so good last year,” he said.
Ayres has little doubt that Dandenong’s experienced campaigners will rise to the occasion against second-placed Melbourne this weekend, but he believes the result may hinge on the contributions of his young guns.
“I think it’s really up to the younger guys to step it up.
“Forsyth and Sarna at the top of the order – and even ‘Junior’ Pattinson – need to really provide some impetus for us.”
While memories of premiership glory will be fresh in the Panthers’ minds, Ayres said he was keen to forget his team’s performance against the Rams on the weekend.
Having cornered Ringwood at 4/55 on Saturday morning, Dandenong was comprehensively outplayed for the remainder of the two-day fixture.
While Darren Pattinson (2/51) and Dave Newman (2/35) accounted for Ringwood openers Dave (22) and Matt King (0), the eldest member of the dangerous sibling trio arrived to resurrect the Rams innings.
Daniel King (127), who is the competition’s leading wicket-taker and a contender for the prestigious Ryder Medal, tormented Dandenong’s accomplished seam attack on his way to his first Premier Cricket century.
He combined with veteran skipper Sean Flynn (56) to orchestrate a gutsy fightback and guide the Rams to a total of 298.
In reply, the Panthers barely fired a shot as Ringwood’s rapid right-armer Drew McKay claimed 5/49 to condemn the visitors to a score of 142.
“We got off to a poor start and never recovered,” Ayres said of his side’s capitulation.
“We’ve just got to create more chances with the ball and bat better this week.”
Looking ahead to a quarter-final clash with his former team in Melbourne, Ayres said his insight into the Demons line-up would count for little if the Panthers could not execute their plans.
Nonetheless, he admitted that he would love to play a vintage knock in what could conceivably be his Premier Cricket swansong.
“I’d like to make a hundred against them, but I’d be just as happy for someone else to make a hundred,” Ayres laughed, before adding that he was yet to decide whether he would play on next season.
Ayres would not be drawn on possible changes to the Panthers’ line-up, but the more pressing question seems to be whether the Demons will regain the services of Bushrangers’ Brad Hodge, Shane Harwood and Andrew McDonald for this weekend’s game.