CRICKET
REPRESENTATIVE
By LIAM DURKIN
CRICKET Latrobe Valley is heading to Melbourne Country Week this year.
One of the great events for local cricketers, Country Week sees regional players from across the state converge on the city for a week-long tournament.
There is also some cricket that gets played.
With this year marking country week’s centenary, it is set to be an even greater showcase.
CLV is back on stage after a one-year hiatus, and will have to compete in Division 2 as a result.
Logistically, Country Week can be challenging, as players need to get time off work and management needs to sort out things like accommodation and travel.
Most importantly, you need a bus driver.
CLV organiser Michael Warne reported good buy-in from players, and said the league was heading down with the expectation of winning the carnival.
“We’ll go down there, have a good crack, there’s no reason we can’t win divvy two and go back up,” he said.
“Unfortunately we are in Division 2 because we missed last year, definitely not where we want to be, we want to be in Provincial. Our league is strong enough to be in Provincial and I feel like it is strong enough to be competitive in Provincial.”
The league appointed Latrobe legend Anthony Bloomfield as chairman of selectors for representative cricket this season, along with leading Churchill batsman John Keighran and Moe master Andrew Philip.
Traralgon hospitality business Green Olive has also provided critical backing.
“It is quite a substantial amount of money to send the guys down there for the week, clubs pay their bit, even though some clubs might not have players representing, it still needs to be shared, we encourage all players to get involved,” Warne said.
“We feel like we’ve turned the corner this year. We’re just rebuilding, trying to get the blokes back interested, get a bit of that old school mentality of being proud to represent your association.”
CLV has been one of the strongest leagues in Gippsland this season, and made the Gippsland Cricket League final played last Sunday.
Batting first, Latrobe Valley scored 107 on a pitch taking plenty of spin at College Oval against Sale-Maffra.
Ryan Morley top-scored with 39, while Amal Athulathmudali was looking dangerous until being stumped for 20.
Despite the total, CLV remained a live chance after reducing Sale-Maffra to 2/8.
The Sharks however lost just one more wicket on the way to a record 24th GCL flag.
Latrobe Valley skipper James Pryde provided one for the highlight reel, taking an incredible one handed catch at second slip.
ELSEWHERE, Raiders won the women’s Kookaburra Cup.
The Kookaburra Cup is played for between the two highest ranking Gippsland teams from the previous season.
Batting first, Raiders scored 7/108 off its allotted 20 overs against Koonwarra Leongatha RSL at Yinnar Turf.
Maddison Winter retired on 36, while Regan Leeson (24 not out) and Zoe Hustwayte (21 not out) also contributed.
RSL fell 17 runs short in reply.
GIPPSLAND Pride won the Victorian Country Cricket League under 21s title.
Pride swept Barwon aside by seven wickets at Hallam Recreation Reserve.
Chasing just 55, Gippsland won inside 10 overs.
Earlier in the day, Sale-Maffra pair Mason Annear (4/22) and Freddie Fellows (2/3) cleaned up.
The team was coached by Latrobe Valley’s Rob ‘Barney’ Webber.
Players were: Ed Phelan-Penson, Jayden Barson, Bryce Jose, Freddie Fellows, Mason Annear, Hamish Anderson, Jake Anderson, Jay Diamond, Tyson Dobson, Bayden Dowsett, Seth Smith and Matt Garland. The 18s didn’t enjoy the same result, but still made the state-wide final nonetheless.
Defending 206 against Mallee Murray at Kangaroo Flat, the game went to the third-last over, although the eventual winners still had five wickets in hand when the target was reached.
