REPRESENTATIVE cricket takes the lead for Red Cliffs Cricket Association players when they come head to head with Broken Hill’s Barrier District Cricket League.
The two competitions played against each other on Australia Day 2020, when Barrier District won by 11 runs. It’s only now that the return fixture can be scheduled for Quandong Park, next January.
A and B Grade matches will be played in the 40 over format, and for the first time a women’s Twenty20 game will also feature with SCA Women’s players coming on board.
RCCA secretary Geoff Christensen said the cricket challenge between the leagues was around during the 1970s, however, it was resurrected two years after Bendigo Country Week games were halted.
“We’ve loved playing representative cricket so we took the opportunity to contact Broken Hill about getting it up and going again,” he said.
“Unfortunately with COVID hitting they haven’t been able to make the return trip. The plan was they would come back and play on the Red Cliffs centenary but with that being postponed dates didn’t quite line up until now.”
Teams are originally based on the selected RCCA A and B Grade Team of the Year from the previous season and while not all players are available, Christensen believes it is a strong side taking the field.
Ouyen Rams’ Alex Morrish, the Les Thurlow Medallion winner (RCCA A Grade best and fairest) will captain the A Grade side, and Fire Brigade’s Lachlan Rohde, winner of the B Grade Brendan Bell Medallion, will vice captain, with his side fielding an A Grade team again this season.
Connor Darby and Nic Vine will lead the B Grade side.
“We like rep cricket, it’s a good opportunity to play against a different side and it to be a reward for good performances for the guys,” Christensen said.
SCA women’s delegate Tash Collihole said Saturday will be the first opportunity for women to represent the region.
“Geoff approached the SCA about the idea and we didn’t want to pass up on the opportunity,” she said.
“Any time you get to play against new opposition and meet new people is a great opportunity, and the more cricket we can get these women and girls playing the better it will be for the development locally.”
Matches are scheduled to be played at the three turf grounds at Red Cliffs, with the men’s games beginning at 1pm and the women’s game at 2pm.
RCCA A Grade side: Alex Morrish, Lachlan Rohde, Jeremy Aworth, Jason Beard, Scottie Clark, Jason Finch, Seth Lanigan, Tom Lister, Dom Leach, Ben Mole, Nic Monaghan, Ethan Munro.
RCCA B Grade side: Connor Darby, Nic Vine, Francis Boulton, Aaron Graham, Ben Leersen, Luke Leersen, Sean Leersen, Harry McLean, Ben Nihill, Anthony Shaw, Dylan Twaddle, Matt Wilton.
SCA Women’s side: To be announced.
