GRAMPIANS Cricket Association has been thrown into a spin with Pomonal Cricket Club dropping out of the 2015/16 B grade competition.
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Pomonal approached the Association last week and said it was unsure if it could field three teams. Following round one, the club decided not to compete in the second tier competition. This would have left only five teams in B grade, a situation not ideal for Grampians cricket.
Following long and robust discussions between GCA executives on Wednesday night, it was decided to promote St Andrews from B grade to A grade for the first time since 2012.
The remaining C grade teams have joined the B grade competition. This means there are now nine A grade teams (with a bye introduced). Ten teams form the lower tier competition.
NOW turning our attention to the on-field matters:
IT will be a baptism of fire for A grade newcomers St Andrews when they tackle Swifts/Great Western this Saturday.
The reigning premiers sent an ominous warning to the rest of the competition following a comprehensive victory over Aradale last weekend: Look out again.
The key to defeating the Combine? There is no easy answer – however, St Andrews bowlers will be eager to remove round one century-scorer, Travis Nicholson, early. There are also the likes of Sam Cocks, Rick Peters and even Jackson Dark, who sits further down the Swifts/Great Western batting order, to consider.
First round winners, Tatyoon and Aradale play off on Saturday at North Park.
Taty’s top order batsmen Richard Tucker, Darren Beer, Michael Harricks and Joe Gibson were serviceable in round one and could create headaches for Aradale’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Brent Tate and Eyan Habib.
Michael Harricks and Joshua Byron claimed six wickets between them for Tatyoon last week. The pair will be hungry for early wickets with Andrew Wood, Tom Williamson and Travis Horvatek in their sights.
Pomonal is on the hunt for its first win of the season, although it comes up against an in-form Youth Club outfit this Saturday at Pomonal.
Sam Spark notched up a half century in the opening round and will be looking to continue his good form, but it won’t be easy with the Clubbers boasting a bowling attack that includes Koby Stewart and Steve Le Gassick.
Halls Gap welcomes Buangor to Central Park, with both of these teams desperate to put their first win on the board for this season.
A grade draw: Tatyoon v Aradale (North Park); Pomonal v Youth Club (Pomonal), Swifts/Great Western v St Andrews (Great Western), Halls Gap v Buangor (Central Park). Bye – Chalambar.
B grade: St Andrews v Swifts/Great Western (Gordon St), Navarre v Buangor (Navarre), Aradale v Pomonal (Aradale), Halls Gap v Chalambar (Halls Gap), Rhymney/Moyston v Youth Club (Moyston).