MURRABIT and Koondrook-Barham cricket clubs are looking forward to testing themselves against the best Swan Hill has to offer.
Along with Kerang, the three former Northern District clubs bring the Swan Hill & District Cricket Association A Grade competition to nine teams this season.
Murrabit Cricket Club secretary Tim Millard told The Guardian the Blues were set to field an A Grade side as well as either a B or C grade team.
“We’re excited to come and join the competition, it’s a bit of a change but we can’t wait,” Millard said.
“We’re looking to enter two sides this season – we’ve gone from one side to two.
“The club is in a good position at the moment and there’s a lot of excitement around.”
Murrabit will be remembered as the final premiers of the NDCA, having defeated Barham by two runs in the grand final for their second flag in as many years.
The club re-formed in 2021 following a 10-year hiatus.
Millard, last season’s captain, said the emotions were still mixed, with their departure also meaning the end for NDCA.
“It’s a bit bittersweet, things change and people move on and it’s a little bit sad that it’s the end of the NDCA, but we have to move with the times,” he said.
“It’s the direction where everything is heading unfortunately – cricket, footy, sport in general, clubs are struggling, competitions are getting bigger and travel is getting further, it’s just a sign of the times.
“We’re pretty proud of the fact our club is the last premiers in the NDCA competition though, that’s for sure.”
Koondrook-Barham Cricket Club president Steven Farrant, while regretful it was the end of one era for cricket in his community, was also upbeat about the beginning of a new one.
“It was a bit of a shame but you could see it coming (the end of the NDCA), once one team left, we had no option but to leave as well,” Farrant said.
“At the same time, we’re also pretty excited about this season – it’s a bit of a change, but we got a bit over playing the same teams all the time last year, so there’s an air of excitement around our club now.
“We’re hoping to field sides in A and B grade, our numbers are pretty good and we’ve recruited pretty well, with a few ex-players coming back that want to play in our first season in the new competition.”
Koondrook-Barham’s junior teams will remain in the Northern District’s under-13 competition, with their combined side with Murrabit known as the Murray Raiders also continuing in the SHDCA under-16 competition.
“We’re ready for the challenge,” Farrant said.
“The first year might be pretty challenging, but if you look at Wandella, they came across a couple of years ago and played off in the grand final last season.
“We’ve got a number of good young kids coming through, so it’ll be a good challenge for them to play a better standard of cricket too, which can only be a positive for everyone.”
