WALCHA its heading into its first Country Shield clash tomorrow a bit underdone but ready to have a crack, according to captain Barry Hoy.
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Following a first-round forfeit against Glen Innes, Walcha will host Inverell at home tomorrow without much time in the middle under their belt.
The Walcha competition is only two rounds in and they have been Twenty20s.
“We (Round Swamp) had the bye last week and Rugby League only scored 56 against Uralla so there hasn’t been much time in the middle,” Hoy said.
“The boys are keen to get out there and anyone we put in will step up.”
Hoy will open the batting and, after scoring a blistering 80 not out in the first round, has his eye in.
Co-captain Ed Blomfield will start at the other end and can generally hold one end down.
Hoy believes the biggest issue will be to get the boys out of Twenty20 mode.
“We have to keep our heads down and bat the 50 overs out,” Hoy said.
“We have some decent bowlers through the side.”
Will Fletcher and Peter Mooney will open the bowling, although Hoy believes Luke Brennan could be the match winner.
Brennan is a medium pacer who can swing the ball both ways and is a smart bowler.
“Last time we went to the semis he was one of the major reasons,” Hoy said.
“He (Luke) has a great change of pace as well and is great at coming on to break up partnerships.”
The side is still missing batting all- rounder Kyle Goodwin, who has had a knee operation and will probably resume club cricket in the next fortnight.
His bowling brother Nathan is also missing after having his day pass cancelled following the birth of his first son.
“Nathan is sooking it but we will get him,” Hoy said.
“Sam Martin is also missing from the bowlers after breaking his arm playing rugby in the grand final.”
While Walcha is just putting its first team together, Inverell has been in top nick in its two games.
It beat Glen Innes easily last week in the Connolly Cup, bowling its neighbours out for 121 and then belting the runs in 17 overs only three wickets down.
It did a similar thing against Moree in the first Country Plate round as well.
A good lineup of quicks accounted for Moree for just 56 runs which the batsmen then smashed with eight wickets in hand.
The game will be played at Captain Cook Oval from 10am.