BECTIVE-EAST and former Tamworth captain Storm Williamson has retained his spot in Tamworth's NRMA side at the expense of Bective team-mate Ashley Turner for the round of 16 game at Maitland this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Also, two of Tamworth's NRMA Cup squad – Brendan Whitby and Brendan Rixon – have been selected in the Emu Colts side to play the touring Canterbury Colts in a Telstra One Day International at Maitland on January 17 and a three-day Test in Gosford starting January 20.
The two talented North Tamworth players are joined in the Emu Colts side by Old Boys paceman Blake Andren.
The touring Kiwis arrive in Australia on January 6 and play their first game of the eight-game tour against Lismore on January 7.
Then follows more one-day games in Grafton (Jan 8), Armidale (Jan 10), Inverell (Jan 11) and Tamworth (Jan 13) before a two-day game in Gunnedah starting January 14.
Then follows the Telstra One Day International and the three-day Test for the Boomerang Trophy.
An Emu Club dinner has been scheduled for the night after the One Day International and will have three Emu Club international cricketers as guests – Doug Walters, Rick McCosker and John Gleeson.
Williamson is a former Emu captain and has been preferred to his Bective team-mate Ashley Turner when Tamworth restarts its NRMA Cup campaign against Canberra premiers Weston Creek on December 28.
Turner was in the original NRMA Cup side when it beat Muswellbrook in its first NRMA Cup match last month.
But the leg-spinning allrounder, who helped Tamworth Gold knock Narrabri out of Nowland Cup contention last Sunday, caught a virus and was a late withdrawal from the Tamworth side which beat Inverell at Inverell in a tense second NRMA Cup clash earlier this month.
Williamson, Turner's replacement in Inverell, helped steer Tamworth to victory at Inverell.
Normally a top-order batsman, the former Emu captain batted number nine at Inverell.
He and South Tamworth paceman Gordon Rae combined in a 9th wicket partnership of 11 runs to beat Inverell by two wickets.
After knocking over Inverell for 97, Williamson and Rae came together with Tamworth teetering at 8-87.
Williamson's experience, and the fact he can also bowl darting off-spin, forced Tamworth selectors to give him a run, especially after two good innings for Bective in club cricket.
He followed up a 65 against competition leaders North Tamworth with an unbeaten 45 against City United last Saturday.
Armidale also made the final 16 of the NRMA Cup and plays Canberra's Eastlakes on December 28.
Pilliga made the final eight of the NRMA Plate competition and plays its quarter final against Gerringong in Raymond Terrace on December 28.
TAMWORTH SQUAD: Mark Sweeney (capt), Don Lewington, Tim Kensell, Adam Jones, Brendan Rixon, Brendan Whitby, James Haling, Richard Rowlings, Storm Williamson, Gordon Rae, Peter Richards, Ben Webb. Team meeting at South Tamworth Bowling Club on Sunday, December 22 from 12 noon (snacks provided).
