It was the first game played in the town for about 100 years and marked the opening of its new synthetic pitch.

“There was nothing here before, except the ground,” Peel Valley Bush Cricket president John Trickett said.

The pitch was purchased by the Woolomin Grounds Committee and thanks to the generous support of 

Redimix Concrete and Farmcrete Concretting Services able to be installed at no extra cost. Redimix supplied the concrete and Farmcrete provided the labour, while Trickett laid the pitch.

He is excited about what it will mean for the competition.

“We had two ovals last year now we’ve got six,” Trickett said.

Along with Woolomin, Nundle, Dungowan, Nemingha, Kootingal and Goonoo Goonoo also have grounds.

It comes on the back of a big jump in interest.

They’ve doubled the number from last year’s inaugural season with Kootingal, Nemingha, Kingswood and Goonoo Goonoo all entering teams this season.

They join Woolomin, Dungowan, Nundle and Loomberah.

“We have 160 members this year,” Trickett said.

He said they had 80 last year but had to knock back many more, not really knowing how the competition would take off.

It proved a hit and not just among the men.

About 30 of the members are ladies/girls, Trickett said. The Kingswood team alone has six.

Most of the others have three.

“This year we’ve brought in a rule that a lady/girl has to play every game,” he said.

Not that that should be a problem.

He felt one of the keys to the competition’s success was the social nature and real sense of community.

“We average about 40 spectators every game,” Trickett said.

And they’re not shy about getting into the spirit of the game.

“Normally the commentating, or sledging, from the side is the funniest part,” he said.

Games are 30 overs and every player has to bowl at least one over.

There will be three games played a day with two teams having the week off.

The other three for the first round will be played next week.