Date set for junior cricket season

JUNIOR cricket in the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association will commence one week after the start of the A grade season, with the first over to be bowled on Saturday, October 14. The under 12, under 14 and under 16 competitions will hope for a better start to the season than last year’s, which saw the first three rounds washed out. The junior competition will be structured much the same as previous, with a similar number of teams in contention. “At this stage, we have eight under 16 teams, there are 12 under 14 teams, and 15 under 12 teams which will be split into two divisions,” WDCA secretary and junior club coordinator Wayne Cooper said. “It’s about the same (as last year). “Numbers are falling away at under 16s – Junior Magpies, Greta and Ovens Valley are all joining together for one team.” Cooper said the uptake of the new mandatory PlayHQ system had thrown up some obstacles, but clubs were managing to sort everything out with support from the state governing body. “There have been a lot of training sessions that the clubs have attended, and they’ve been really well attended,” he said. “There have been some challenges implementing the system. “Draws will be released soon, we’re just ironing out a few issues with venues on PlayHQ.” To register with your local club, visit play.cricket.com.au and search for your local club. The WDCA wishes to remind players and parents that registrations must be completed before the first round of competition, in order to play. Trials for the association’s representative sides are expected to commence in mid-November.