Weekend Gold Coast Bulletin

Coomera’s youthful bats must find form

- TERRY WILSON KOOKABURRA CUP

COOMERA- HOPE Island may have lured champion lefthander Andrew Robinson to their ranks but the call has gone out for younger players to provide some support.

The Crocs take on Broadbeach-Robina at Ord Minnett Oval, Broadbeach Waters, today and skipper Brad Ipson admitted the batting must lift.

“That has been the case for the three years I’ve been here,” Ipson said of a lack of firepower in the CHI side.

“So, this season we’re rewarding form with the bat.

“Last season we gave some young kids the opportunit­y to come along and now we’re picking sides based on performanc­e.”

Ipson’s return after missing the opening round loss to Surfers Paradise is a timely boost to the side that contains two other changes this weekend.

Left-hander Ross Panes has been promoted after a 50 with the seconds last weekend and young all-rounder Jacob Hill will debut in first grade.

Broadbeach opened their 2016-17 campaign with an outright victory against Runaway Bay last weekend and should offer a stern test for the Crocs.

Palm Beach-Currumbin will want another bright opening stand by Richard Burgess and Mitchell Tripp against Runaway Bay at Salk Oval.

Tripp (73) and Burgess (72) put on 140 for the Lions in their first-up win against Helensvale-Pacific Pines, the best in years by a PBC pair, as was the club’s score of 9-312.

In other games today, premiers Queens host Burleigh at Arthur Angove Park; Surfers Paradise take on Mudgeeraba­Nerang at David Johnston Oval, Benowa; Loganholme face Alberton at Tansey Park, Tanah Merah; and SouthportL­abrador are playing Helensvale-Pacific Pines at Morrie Glasman Oval, Arundel.

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