Randall Woodley
The famous quote from cricket television commentator, Bill Lawry, “It’s all happening!” could be used to describe the pre-season state of affairs at the Tewantin-Noosa Cricket Club.
The committee (with a number of new members) has been working hard to organise registrations, team lists, dates, training programs and finalise everything in readiness for the new season.
SENIOR CRICKET
The season commences officially for First Grade on Saturday 16 September with the other grades playing their first matches on 8 October. However, training has been underway for some time and will continue each Tuesday and Thursday nights at Read Park from 5.30pm.
The club has also played a couple of trial matches against Maroochydore in August (with a win) and two matches last weekend against a Gold Coast Club. In the Gold Coast matches there were some great contributions by the young bowlers, Sam Baker and Ben Potter in particular.
The club is intending to field five teams this season, one in each grade. This will provide plenty of opportunities for the older junior players to gain experience on a Saturday afternoon in the lower senior grades, after playing their age matches in the morning.
The captains for the senior teams have been selected and are as follows-
First Grade- Michael Eckard
Second Grade- Tristan Griffin
Third Grade- Nigel Webster
Fourth Grade- Matt Mayo
Fifth Grade- Shane Gessell
As is usual at the start of a new season, there will be a number of changes to the first-grade team lineup with a couple of key players either retiring or changing clubs but most of the nucleus of last season’s team will be returning. However, it is pleasing to see a number of new players turning up at training and ready to play.
JUNIOR CRICKET
Cricket Blast is a new product for kids six-nine years old who are new to cricket. Cricket Blast will have eight fun sessions that run weekly for 60 – 90 minutes every Thursday 4-5.30pm at Read Park. Cricket Blast will start 19 October.
Girls League:
Girls only – Five festival days on alternative Sundays commencing mid-October with dates and times to be confirmed. Open to females aged seven-14. The girls will play against other all girls teams from other clubs. Training will be Thursday afternoons 4-5pm (commencing 5 September)
Playing days and times: Sunday mornings at 7.45am (TBC) – commencing 15 October
Under 10s:
Under 10s is for kids six-nine years old who have played Master Blasters cricket before. There will be 16 games, eight before the Christmas school holidays and then 8 in the new year. The games will be played under lights 6-8pm Friday nights at different clubs. Training is Thursday afternoons 4-5pm, commencing 19 October and first match 20 October.
Under 11s:
Training days and times: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4-5.30pm (commencing 5 September). Playing days and times: Saturday mornings – Time slots at 7.45am and 9.55am – commencing 7 October.
Under 13s:
Trials and team selection sessions: Tuesday 5 September and Thursday 7 September. Training days and times: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4-5.30pm (commencing 5 September).
Playing days and times: Saturday mornings at 7.45am – commencing 7 October.
Under 15s:
Trials and team selection sessions: Tuesday 5 September and Thursday 7 September. Training days and times: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4-5.30pm (commencing 5 September). Playing days and times: Saturday mornings at 7.45am – commencing 7 October.
*Some Friday night games may be fixtured
Under 17s:
Training days and times: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4-5.30pm (commencing September 5th). Playing days and times: Saturday mornings at 7.45am – commencing 7 October.
*Some Friday night games may be fixtured
Important information:
– Players need to be registered to train and trial.
– No games are played during the September school holidays, games are played up until school Christmas holidays and will recommence in mid-January.
– Training during the September holidays will be at the discretion of coaches.
Coaching:
– The club needs volunteers to coach in all age groups so please contact the club if you would like to coach or volunteer this season.
The other great news is that the facilities at Dale Officer Oval and Matt Thornhill Oval have now been completed.
There are new toilets, large dressing rooms and a canteen.
These facilities will be used by the juniors on Saturday mornings and senior grades on Saturday afternoons.
