All ready for Willowfest Veterans Cricket Championships

STATE team places for this year’s national titles will be up for grabs when Willowfest Veterans Cricket Championships start today.

Twenty teams from South Australia, Victoria and the ACT will compete in over 50, 60 and 70 divisions in the tournament which runs until Thursday.

Willowfest president Anthony Telfer said competition would be fierce, but played in good spirit, with selectors getting a good chance to finalise their squad ahead of the national Over 50s in Perth, Over 60s in Adelaide and Over 70s in Albury in November.

Sunraysia Green and Sunraysia Gold will fly the flag locally in the Over 50s with Green taking on Veterans Cricket SA today at Mildura Senior College and Gold facing Victoria Saxons at Alcheringa Oval in their first games of the tournament.

The Over 60s and Over 70s start tomorrow.

All matches are 40 overs a side.

Games will be held throughout Sunraysia, including Mildura Senior College, Kenny Park, City Oval, Quandong Park, the Old Aerodrome Sports Complex, Alcheringa Oval, Chaffey Park, Cardross Reserve, McLeod Oval and Henshilwood Reserve.

“The games are always played in good spirit, it’s a very social week, but once teams cross the white line (it’s competitive), especially in the Over 50s,” Telver said.

For draws and results go to mycricket.cricket.com.au and search Willowfest.