Cricket
9 October, 2024
A-grade newcomers Colts and BrimKSH ready for season
The Horsham Cricket Association kicks off its 2024/2025 season on Saturday, with nine clubs participating in the A-grade competition.
West Wimmera Warriors, Homers, Tigers, Lubeck Murtoa, Laharum, Horsham Saints, and the Bullants return to A-grade. Dimboola has dropped out, and newcomers BrimKSH join alongside the Colts, moving up from B-grade. This makes a nine-team competition that features a bye each week.
New president Justtin Combe explained the reason for nine teams.
"Colts and BrimKSH were the only clubs that showed interest in A-grade, and having a bye in A-grade is not the worst thing in the world as it allows clubs to have a week or two weeks off and capitalise on the summer weather," Combe said.
Combe expects West Wimmera to be the standout team again.
"They lost the two-day grand final last season and won the one day, but they were by far the best team in the competition," Combe said.
"You look at the Homers and Jung, and BrimKSH will be competitive, and the Colts have picked up a few players, so the competition will be tight."
In B-grade, Rupanyup/Minyip and Colts are the standout teams. Both teams played in the grand finals last year, with the Panthers winning the two-day and the Colts the one-day. BrimKSH, Bullants, Homers, Horsham Saints, Quantong and the Tigers will also be competitive.
In C-grade, the under-16s have to retire at 100. Natimuk are the defending champions and will face tough competition from Lubeck Murtoa. Laharum, Tigers, and West Wimmera will also be competitive, while Blackheath Dimboola may struggle.
The junior competition is struggling with numbers. The under-16s have five teams: Blackheath Dimboola, Bullants, Homers, Horsham Saints, and Tigers. The under-14s also have five teams: Blackheath Dimboola, Bullants, Homers, Panthers, and Tigers.
The under-12s are thriving with 12 teams: Blackheath Dimboola, Bullants, Homers, Horsham Saints x2, Panthers x2, Tigers and West Wimmera.
Combe is hopeful more juniors will play and said night games are on the cards.
"We will play night games with the under14s, and how it will work is after an A-grade match at Horsham City Oval, if their juniors are also fixtured, they will play afterwards," Combe said.
"They will be scheduled accordingly, but it's something different, and we have had a lot of positive feedback."
The Association is also looking for umpires, as they have the bare minimum. If anyone has time to umpire, please contact the Horsham Cricket Association.