By Randall Woodley
With the football season almost over it is time for the men and women, boys and girls of the district to get their whites out, clean up their pads and gloves and have few swings with their bats.
Yes, cricket season is about to commence although with the recent World Cup and Ashes matches in England the “gentlemen game” has not been far from the TV, the newspapers and our conversations.
The Sunshine Coast Cricket Association’s season starts on Saturday 5 October and the local club, the Tewantin-Noosa Thunder is geared up to go.
During the off-season the main club ground, Read Park has undergone some major works- new drainage, an extra centre turf wicket and also new practice nets both synthetic and turf.
During the next few months the grounds will be equipped with the most up-to date lighting available which will allow night cricket to be played on the oval.
SENIOR MENS
This season the club will be entering 4 senior mens teams in the competition and the club is hoping to go one better than last season when both the Firsts and Fourths ended as runners-up in their grades. The teams and captains are as follows
First Grade – Jake Dennien-Captain
Seconds – Robbie Payton and Blake Steel -Joint Captains
Fourths – Jason Toohey – Captain
Sixths – Mike Sobey – Captain
This year the Yandina Club has decided not to enter a team in the First Division Competition and Noosa’s neighbours, the Coolum Club will be joining the First Division for the first time. In fact, the first round will feature these two teams playing a two-day match, commencing next Saturday at Read Park.
This should prove to be a the first of many ‘Local Derbies’ that will be played between the clubs over the coming years.
The TNT First Grade has been able to retain a majority of last season’s players and a few new younger players have been added to the team list.
Unfortunately, last years top First Grade bowler (50 wickets), TNT’s Scott Aufderheide will not be at his best for some weeks due to damaging his shoulder playing Aussie Rules with the Noosa Tigers during the winter.’
However, the other opening bowlers, Tom Freshwater and teenager Tom Stewart will be doing their best to take the extra wickets required. The other grades will have most of their regular players returning with a few new faces yet to wear the TNT colours.
JUNIORS
TNT will be fielding 10 junior teams this season which is the second largest number of registrations in the association.
It is hoped that many of the dads and mums will again step up to support the teams in the roles of coaches, umpires and scorers. Junior practice is held each Tuesday and Thursday at Read Park commencing at 4pm.
The club will also be running the Master Blasters for children (aged 10 and under), each Friday night under lights at Read Park, commencing at 5.30pm.
WOMEN
The club will again be entering a team in the SCCA Sunday competition commencing on October 13. Paula McKie has been appointed captain.
Any enquiries regarding registrations, teams or training can be directed to the club secretary Jason Toohey on 0402 893 099.
