CRICKET
TDCA
TRARALGON and District Cricket Association’s big hitters will swap the whites for greens this Sunday when the cricket season launches at Traralgon Golf Club.
The traditional competition start date has been pushed back a week to accommodate a four-player Ambrose golf day, where clubs will battle for pre-season bragging rights on the fairways.
After hitting his first hole-in-one at Yallourn’s 260 metre par four ninth with a three wood in January, Simon Duff of Rovers will be one to watch.
“We didn’t actually see it go in; we got up to the green and we were looking in all the bunkers for it and decided it could be in the hole, and there it was,” Duff said.
Duff, who plays off a handicap of 12, said the initiative would start the season on the right note, but harboured little hope for Rovers’ chances.
“I’m looking forward to it, it will be a good way to get a few of the boys from the club down and get to mingle with them a bit, a few of the new players and catch up with the players from the other clubs,” he said.
“In the golfing category I’m not overly hopeful; I’m not too concerned if we win or not as long as the boys who do play have fun and enjoy themselves (but) it’d be nice to come away with a bit of silverware.”
Among the notables in the field are long hitting Ex Students gun Dylan Spence, who won the A grade amateur title at this year’s Yallourn pro-am, Churchill’s Graham Harvey and Gormandale duo Grant Little and Kent Hammond, who both play off low teen handicaps.
The golf day will be followed by an official season launch at Traralgon Recreation Reserve.
TDCA administrator Gavin Foenander said the extra week gave clubs more time to prepare their grounds and allowed the dust to settle on the Australian Football League season.
“We just want to start on a bit of a positive and goodwill note and get everyone together,” he said.
“We’re really hoping it will get everyone keen and ready for a big cricket year.”
Each TDCA club will be represented on the day.
Round one of the cricket season will be played the following week on 12 October.
