GLEN Innes skipper Adrian Sippel returns to an old stamping ground this weekend and will be hoping his side can shore up a home MA Connolly Cup semi-final.
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They can with a win over Tamworth in Tamworth on Sunday.
The two head into the final round on top of their respective conferences – Tamworth the southern and Glen the eastern – and on the same points (14).
With Pilliga leading the other conference and on 18 points, the winner of Tamworth and Glen will host the other semi-final next weekend.
Sippel played in Tamworth for many years but isn’t alone. Jake Baker and Blake Steel have also played some cricket in Tamworth, although not as much as their skipper.
On Sunday they’ll be a key part of the Glen attack along with Perry Stapleton.
The promising teenager is poised to make his senior rep debut.
“He’s only young but he shows so much potential,” Sippel said.
He knows what the young quick can do. Stapleton plays in his club side.
“He’s been playing some good cricket,” he said.
At last month’s Bradman Cup he was one of the stars for Central North as it reached the final for the second consecutive year.
In that, he was CN’s best performer, taking 4-30.
Nick Whan is another young developing talent.
“It’s only his second game,” Sippel said.
“He played well on debut, got a couple of wickets and helped us get the win against
Armidale.”
Sippel said it would be good to get back to Tamworth and a good challenge.
“It’ll be a good gauge of where we’re at with cricket in Glen Innes,” he said.
It’s been a good season so far for the district side, and a home semi-final and possibly final would really top things off.
“That’d be handy for us. It would be good to achieve for Glen Innes,” Sippel said.
They will be probably a bit underdone.
Tomorrow’s games will be the first club games for the new year.
“We haven’t had any cricket all of January,” Sippel said.
He said it would be good to get back out there.
“The guys are pretty keen to have a hit,” he said.
They’ve even been having a few training sessions over the break.
The other game on Sunday will see Moree hosting Pilliga.
GLEN INNES: Adrian Sippel (capt), Peter Rajko, Nathan Purvis, Nathan Levy, Nick Lehman, Joel Jackson, Perry Stapleton, Scott Hodder, Ben Lonergan, Blake Steel, Jake Baker, Nick Whan.