FORMER Esperance Cricket Association (ECA) players are making a mark in WACA district cricket this season playing for the Gosnells Cricket Club.
Up and coming fast bowler Cody Henderson, originally from the ECA's Newtown club, made his first grade debut for Gosnells against Subiaco Floreat in round nine after impressing in round eight of the second grade competition taking 4/59 against University.
Henderson finished his first grade outing without taking a wicket against Subiaco Floreat but his second match saw him claim his first wickets in first grade taking 2/54 from 10 overs against Scarborough in a 50 overs match.
Twenty three-year-old Henderson was first noticed as an 18-year-old by former Gosnells coach Phil Petricevich who had attended a Country Week match in 2007 to cast an eye over fellow Esperance cricketer Clancy Wheeler.
Henderson was encouraged to come and play for Gosnells by Wheeler who had started with the club in the 2010-11 WACA grade cricket season.
Henderson said he was impressed by the encouragement and support he was given by the Gosnells coaching staff in his first season at the club.
Another Esperance player who has found his niche at Gosnells is 16-year-old Michael Renton.
Renton played for Coastal Warriors in the ECA before moving to Perth last year playing one game for Gosnells in the 2010/2011 season.
Renton attends Kent Street High School where he is enrolled in the school's cricket curriculum course.
This season he has played three District Under 17 matches and three third grade games taking 4/26 in his latest match to help his side to victory over Midland Guildford.
He also competed in the recent WA Country Week senior competition for Esperance Cricket Association's A grade team taking 6/17 against Port Hedland and took six wickets from four games in the WA Country Week junior competition with his leg spin bowling.
Renton said one of the reasons for choosing Gosnells was that he was attracted by the welcoming family friendly atmosphere at the club.
Another player who came to Petricevich's notice was Baden Norwood who made a couple of centuries during Country Week in 2007.
Norwood, in his fourth season for Gosnells, was also an Esperance Cricket Association product playing for Coastal Warriors.
When Norwood came to Perth in 2008 he played a couple of second grade games for Gosnells before making his first grade debut in a one day match against Melville in the 2008/2009 season.
Like Henderson and Renton, Norwood is impressed by the camaraderie at Gosnells.
He said having peers from Esperance playing at Gosnells was a positive.
Clancy Wheeler, despite not playing for Gosnells this season, was recruited from Newtown in the ECA and played in the 2010/2011 season for Gosnells.
He played a total of nine games for the club taking two five wicket hauls in two matches and finished the season with 20 wickets at an average of 12.80 to finish third in the Gosnells first grade bowling ranks.
Wheeler is recovering from shoulder surgery after playing for WAFL club Subiaco in 2011 and hopes to return to play for Gosnells next season.
Further strengthening its association with the Esperance district Gosnells hosted a coaching and training clinic at Sutherlands Park for the ECA's country week teams on the Saturday prior to the commencement of 2012 Senior Country Week in Perth.
Gosnells director of cricket Paul Cullinane said he would be happy to hear from anyone who has the desire to play WACA grade cricket.
Paul can be contacted on 0412 419 488 or alternatively club coach Russell Le Dain on 0414 233 616.
The WACA district competition runs from October to March with pre-season training starting in August.
