Hawks’ drought over with crucial win

HELENSVALE Pacific Pines Cricket Gold Coast first grade captain Jack Lickiss says the team has faith their top order can click into gear ahead of their biggest test yet in Queens.

The Hawks put a frustrating opening four rounds behind them yesterday to beat Southport Labrador at Hession Oval in their first win of the season.

It has been a long time coming for the team that lost their opening game, had a bye in the second week, were washed out in the third and lost their Round 4 game against Surfers Paradise on Saturday.

“We are pretty stoked with it after a rough start to be fair,” Lickiss (pictured) said.

“We went three weeks without playing a game of cricket. There was a bit of a feeling that we were dusting off the cobwebs

(on Saturday) and it showed. We weren’t clinical at all.

“(On Sunday) we were much better.”

Helensvale Pacific Pines had Southport Labrador pinned at 7-18 after being sent into bowl thanks to quick Ryan Maloney (4-11) and off-spinner Dylan Sherriff (3-17).

Southport Labrador managed to fight their way to 103 runs and Helensvale were under threat of letting the game slip after collapsing to 4-32 in reply.

It came just a day after they were 4-14 against Surfers Paradise.

Lickiss helped steady the side with a top score of 37 not out as Helensvale reached 5-106 in the 35th over.

Helensvale Pacific Pines will play powerhouse Queens at Hession Oval this Saturday and Lickiss said while their top-order had work to do, he backed them to come good.

“We back the guys batting up the top to come good,” Lickiss said.

“We have total faith in them. Everyone has been working really hard through the season and back into the preseason.

“We need to try and take this win and identify the things we did well and continue to improve on the things we didn’t do so well.”