New innings for cricket clubs

SIX cricket clubs have pulled up stumps, shifting from the Red Cliffs Cricket Association to the Sunraysia Cricket Association for the upcoming season.

The 94-year-old RCCA won’t hold a competition this summer, as the Ouyen Rams, Nursery Ridge, Tempy Tigers, Curlwaa Islanders, Fire Brigade and South West all join the SCA.

Boards from both associations have regularly met to discuss the future of cricket in Sunraysia, and in January the long-term viability of the RCCA was discussed.

Established in 1930, the RCCA’s immediate future will be ratified at its annual general meeting next Wednesday, when a 12-month recess will start if there is an insufficient number of team nominations.

Association secretary Geoff Christensen said the decision was “pretty much a formality”, however the board had to go through due process.

“It’s obviously sad for us but we’ve still been able to maintain cricket over recent years, which is what we wanted to do,” he said.

“As an organisation, we will still continue running for the next year at least, we just won’t be holding any competition, and we’ll let clubs assess after 12 months in Sunraysia what they want for the future.

“We’re in a situation now where we’ve been dealing with Sunraysia over the last few years as we could see a time when there wouldn’t be a Red Cliffs competition … it’s happened a lot faster than we expected.”

SCA president Mick Thomson said the mass move by clubs happened rather suddenly.

“We promised not to approach any Red Cliffs club, which we have not done, they have all approached us,” Thomson said.

“It’s not a merger.

“The clubs indicated very strongly that they wanted to remain as clubs, they wanted to keep their identity and as far as they’re concerned that’s their main aim.

“They all want to try and grow their clubs and they all said they can’t do that out there.”

First, Second and Third divisions in the SCA will retain their format of seven one-day matches and seven two-day games across the home-and-away season.

Ouyen Rams will host its Second Division home games at Quandong Park in Red Cliffs until a turf wicket can be established at Blackburn Park in Ouyen.

Mr Thomson said there was a good opportunity to grow cricket in the region as a result of this move.

“There’s probably a few club presidents, current club presidents, a little bit hesitant as to what’s transitioning,” he said.

“But speaking to players, they are so excited. They’ve embraced it like it’s magnificent, they can’t wait for the season to start.”

The Millewa Cricket Club has not made a decision about its summer plans yet, while the Robinvale Euston Rangers Cricket Club will take a recess for the coming 12 months, after which the future of the club will be re-evaluated.

Mr Christensen said RCCA were in the process of trying to protect their history and recognition of their life members.

“We are appealing to the SCA to involve us there in some capacity just so we can keep the legacy and history alive,” he said.

“The competition has been around since 1930 and has its roots in the former Red Cliffs Cricket Club … it’s a very unique history we have.”

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How things will look for the Sunraysia Cricket Association:

First Division: No change.

Second Division: 10 clubs with Nursery Ridge and Ouyen Rams joining.

Third Division: 10 clubs with Mildura Royals and Tempy Tigers joining.

Fourth Division: 15 clubs with Mildura Royals, Ouyen Rams, Nursery Ridge, Tempy Tigers, Curlwaa Islanders, Fire Brigade and South West joining, and Gol Gol returning.

Women’s Competition: No change.