WITH the men’s Kookaburra Southern Cricket Association season due to get under way this Saturday, all clubs have been training hard for what looks set to be another great season ahead. Like last season, there will be seven grades of competition. First Grade to Sixth Grade will have eight teams each, while Seventh Grade will have 10 teams.
The T20 matches will get things under way with three rounds of fast-pace cricket, with finals to be held on the last Saturday before Christmas. Round 1 of the 50-over and 40-over formats will begin on November 2-3, with 14 rounds for all grades and the finals are to be played in March.
The women’s roster will start on October 26. The Bothwell Bucks have entered a team this season, joining New Norfolk and five other women's teams. There will be eight rounds in this competition, with matches played every second weekend, some on Saturdays and others on Sundays. Finals will be played in March.
Let’s take a look at each of the local clubs and see how they are shaping up in readiness for the season ahead.
BOTHWELL: In some big news at Bothwell, the club has formed a women’s team to play in the KSCA. There has been good interest at training and with a a couple more weeks until their roster starts, the women are very keen to play their first match - an historic event for the club. Once again, the Bucks will field two men’s teams in the KSCA. Bothwell I will again be in Fourth Grade and Bothwell II in Seventh Grade. Both teams finished sixth in their respective grades last summer and will be looking to improve on this for season 2019/20. Joey Eyles is again the club president and says the Bucks have lost three players to Wellington, but picked up new player Tom Matthews, and allrounder Cody Eyles returns to the club from Glenorchy.
Men’s training: Wednesdays from 5.30pm at the Bothwell Recreation Ground. For more information contact Joey Eyles on 0439 639 445.
Women’s training: Thursdays from 6pm at the Bothwell Recreation Ground. For more information contact Rachel Clark on 0408 618 526.
BUSHY PARK: Sadly Bushy Park Cricket Club has gone into recess. This club has a long and proud history that dates back to at least the 1881/82 season. It has produced many great cricketers over the years and it will be a real pity not having the team playing this season. It hasn't been easy for the club over the past three or four seasons, with player numbers on the decline and the financial strain. Hats go off to the likes of Nick, Karen and Shaun Fenton and their small committee who have given so much to the club for a very long time and should be very proud of their efforts. Let’s hope things can turn around in the future and the Bees will once again be up and running.
GRETNA: The club will again field two senior teams in the KSCA. After finishing runners-up last summer, Gretna I will again play in Second Grade. After three seasons in Fourth Grade, Gretna II will play in Fifth Grade. The club has retained most of last season's players but one new players is Marc Worldon who has recently moved from Queensland where he played for the Norths-Mackay Cricket Club for about 20 years. The allrounder recently gave up bowling for wicket-keeping and will be a handy inclusion for Gretna. Other new players are Dylan Grant from Bushy Park, brothers Zac and Bailey Wheeler from the Brighton Cricket Club, while Adam Browning and Tom Allcock are back from a season off.
Training: Wednesdays from 5pm at the Gretna War Memorial Oval. For more information, contact Rhys Browning on 0458 631 312.
MOLESWORTH: Molesworth I will again play in Second Grade and after missing out on the finals last season, they will look to make amends this season. Molesworth II will again be in Seventh Grade. The team went down to eventual premiers Sorell in the semi-final last summer but will be better equipped to go that bit further in 2019/20. Back in April, the club appointed former Glenorchy player Brett Smith as it coach, bringing more than 25 years of experience of which will help the club immensely. New players include Jack Evans and Ben Triffett from Bushy Park. Daniel Adams returns after a season off while Jake Lester and Josh Nichols cross over from the New Norfolk Cricket Club. Over the last few weeks, a new pitch has been laid on Boyer Oval. This is a welcome improvement as the old one was nearing its lifespan.
Training: Thursdays from 5pm at Boyer Oval. For more information contact coach Brett Smith on 0437 814 433.
NEW NORFOLK: The Red Caps will again field three men’s teams and one women’s team in the KSCA and two Under 13s teams in the Hurricanes Junior League. The club has appointed Jason Rigby as it’s senior men’s coach, while Seb Wishart will be assistant coach and batting coach. Brad Kemmler has been reappointed coach of the women’s team and Hannah Mann will be his assistant. Josh Walsh has done a fantastic job over the past five seasons and will again be the coach of the juniors. New Norfolk I will remain in First Grade and will be captained by Matthew Bowden. After being premiers in both the T20 and 50-over formats in Third Grade, New Norfolk II has been put up to Second Grade and will be again captained by Jake King, while New Norfolk III will again play in Fifth Grade, captained by Nathan Heron. The club has signed some very handy players including Shaun Fenton and Brad Smith from the Bushy Park Club and Sam Hoggett from St Virgil’s, while Dave Maddox and Joe McCulloch are back from retirement. The only loss is Jordan Willoughby who has gone to New Town. The women’s team will be captained by Hannah Mann. The ladies finished fourth in their inaugural season and will look to improve on this. There have been good numbers at training and coach Kemmler has been putting the women through their paces for a great season. New Norfolk has had a new pitch put in at Tynwald Park. It’s much wider than the old one and the direction it sits in has been changed slightly.
Men’s training: Thursdays at Tynwald Park from 5.30pm. For more information contact coach Jason Rigby on 0499 356 098.
Women’s training: Tuesdays at Tynwald Park 5.30-7pm. For more information contact coach Brad Kemmler on 0419 987 215.
Junior training: Training for the two Under 13 teams is on Tuesdays at Tynwald Park from 4.30-6pm. For more information, contact coach Josh Walsh on 0417 426 269.
WADE GLEESON
Men's T20 Super Bash - Round 1 - Saturday, October 12
FIRST GRADE: New Norfolk I v Old Beach at Cloak Oval, Old Beach, 3.30pm.
SECOND GRADE: Gretna I v St Anne's at Gretna, 3pm; Molesworth I v Sorell at Pembroke Park (Sorell Oval No.1), 3.30pm; New Norfolk II v Marquis Tigers at Ogilvie High School, 2pm.
FOURTH GRADE: Bothwell I v Lindisfarne at Bothwell, 3pm.
FIFTH GRADE: Gretna II v St Anne’s at Gretna, 11.45am; New Norfolk III v Knights at Collinsvale, 12.15pm.
SEVENTH GRADE: Bothwell II v Campania at Bothwell, 11.45am; Molesworth II v Derwent at Wentworth Park, 9am.
Women's Roster - Saturday, October 26
Bothwell v Montagu Bay at Bothwell, 9am; New Norfolk v St Anne's at Eady St Oval No.1, 12.45pm.
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