Top Bullants flee the nest

By Ian Ferguson
OFFICER produced sensational news before a ball was even bowled in the 2005/06 cricket season, when West Gippsland cricket legend Jack Hayes recently departed from the club.
Hayes, who coached the Bullants for just one season, has accepted a coaching role for next season with CaseySouth Melbourne seconds. He will maintain an active role in the West Gippsland Cricket Association (WGCA) however, through his cricket equipment and apparel company, Willow Wizard, which will continue to be a major sponsor of the local competition.
Officer was expected to become the new power club in the WGCA following Hayes’ appointment for the 200405 season, especially when prominent local players Chris Pentland and John Simpson joined the wily leftarm spinner at the Starling Road Reserve.
Now it appears that Hayes’ departure has resulted in a mass exodus of talent from Officer, as Pentland is reportedly pursuing a coaching role in the Narre Warren area, while Simpson may move to a nearby turf competition.
The bad preseason news for Officer may not end with these three losses, as champion newball bowler Simon Cornell is also rumoured to be considering a return to turf cricket, possibly with Berwick. The anticipated loss of Cornell, Simpson and Pentland to other associations is also a body blow to WGCA Melbourne Country Week hopes, as all three were in the squad that won the Division Four title last February.
There were numerous other rumours about player movement circulating this week. Lionel Sexton has returned to the area and the former Lang Lang and Kooweerup allrounder is tipped to join Catani. Mick Torney, who was somewhat of a local cricket nomad before work commitments interrupted his playing days two seasons ago, is also tipped to line up with the Blues in 200506.
The talented Brad Francis may return to Premier Cricket or subdistrict ranks after leading Clyde last season and Cardinia may lose a highly rated youngster, Jamie Glen, to Pakenham UpperToomuc (PUT).
Gary Davidson, a top batsman from Hallam, has been appointed as captain and assistant coach of Merinda Park.
The WGCA executive has also made a new appointment, Rick Webster accepting the role of junior cricket coordinator.