Hills end on a high

By Gavin Staindl
DESPITE a shocking season, Endeavour Hills added a neat touch to its final game beating Yarraville by one wicket at Yarraville Reserve.
The unusual sounds of joy and celebration met Chris Pereira as hit the winning runs in Saturday’s one-dayer giving the Hills’ their second win of the season.
Seventeen-year-old Lauchlan McIver played his best innings representing the Hills’ first XI knocking 57 runs from second drop as he proved he could be a foundation batter in Endeavour’s line-up next season.
After restricting Yarraville to 6/173 with Pereira (3/39) and coach John Hayes (1/25) leading the attack, Chris Peake (28) and Lenny Van der Werff (14) got off to a quick start belting 60 from the opening 12 overs.
It is puzzling that a team that has not won a match in three months can be so confident about winning, but Hayes was adamant that after 12 overs his team was never going to lose this one.
Even when Yarraville leg-spinner Tim McRae claimed five quick wickets to leave the Hills one wicket away from another defeat Hayes knew his boys were going to get over the line.
“We were always going to get up, it was our turn,” Hayes said. “I just figured the law of averages said we were bound to get one.
“I was pretty confident Chris (Pereira) was going to do it,” he said.
Hayes’ confidence was justified as Pereira guided home the final two runs in the 44th over to remove the Hills from the bottom of the ladder.
Afterwards, beers flowed and the theme song was sung with tremendous gusto as many of the younger players experienced singing the anthem for the first time
“Once we remembered the words the song was certainly sung with plenty of gusto,” Hayes said. “It was a good result.”
Hayes also had another reason to celebrate as he was re-appointed as head coach on Monday night.
The 40-year-old accepted a 12-month contract that will see him lead the Eagles for his third year in 2011/12.