ST Mary’s Tyntynder and Nyah District will write another chapter in a long-held rivalry at the Ken Harrison Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
While the Bulldogs and Demons have spent the best part of a decade fighting it out atop the SHDCA ladder, the home side enter this clash with form, starting the new season with three straight wins.
Nyah District, meanwhile, were last week handed a cricketing lesson by Wandella – and the reigning premiers this week were expected to be an even greater test.
However, it’s a whole new ball game for Ben Shadbolt’s men, the Demons set to regain two key players.
“Both Joel Walsh and Josh Domaille have been unavailable to start the season, but to have them both back this weekend is a real positive,” Shadbolt said.
“It’s only going to benefit us having a guy of Walshy’s talents and Doey’s ability, it’s good that they’ve made themselves available for one of the tougher games too.
“We know what we’re going to get from (St Mary’s Tyntynder), they’re always attacking the game, so it’s good to have guys like (Walsh and Domaille) in the side.”
St Mary’s Tyntynder will have some key inclusions, too, in captain Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Bailey Codling and Dom Violi.
The trio missed last Saturday’s 43-run win over Barham-Koondrook.
That match will be remembered for opening batsman Jonty Chaproniere posting a dominant 129 from 107 balls, to continue his good early season form.
Chaproniere’s ability to score runs at a fast rate at the top of the order has his captain most excited.
“Although he played at the back end of last season, he really is like a new recruit for us this year,” Holmes-Brown told The Guardian this week.
“He adds that little bit of extra depth to our already established batting line-up and it’s certainly a relief off my shoulders knowing that he’ll be out there every week opening the batting and usually, nine times out of 10, gets us away to a flyer.”
St Mary’s Tyntynder are more than just a one-man team, possessing one of the deepest and most talented batting line-ups in the SHDCA, according to Shadbolt.
“They bat as deep as anyone, Jake Foster, Jack Shannahan, Bailey Codling, Charlie King in the middle order, even Nathaniel Holmes-Brown and Robin (Sebastian) in the lower order,” Shadbolt said.
“They are a super cricket team. We’ll be happy if we get Jonty (Chaproniere) early, but it will mean nothing if we don’t get the others too.
“We have to get runs on the board, which is something we’ve struggled with in the past few weeks.
“We made 180-odd against Woorinen and it was well and truly defendable, whereas the other two games we haven’t got a good enough of a score on the board.”
While the return of Walsh will help, the Demons will need more from their top and middle order to post a defendable total.
Holmes-Brown said his side were looking forward to the challenge.
“In my short time at the club, it’s always been a good rivalry between them and us,” he said.
“The two teams get along off the field, but it’s always competitive on the field, and it’s always good to test yourself against the better sides and they certainly are that.”
