GUNNEDAH president Mike Silver has named an MA Connolly Cup side that contains seven players under the age of 20 as selectors look to create some more depth in the town.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The young side will host competition favourites Tamworth 2nd XI in a second- round MA Connolly Cup clash at Wolseley Park on Sunday
The Gunnedah side will be led by Ryan Cooper, with the experienced heads of Brad Gander and Blake Small also on hand to mentor the young side.
Cooper is in good nick with the bat this season, knocking an 88 not out against North Tamworth in the War Veterans Cup a few weeks ago before a hard-earned 28 in a low scoring Country Shield clash with Singleton last week.
Gunnedah won the game and will go through to the third round.
Only three players who played in that squad will play in the Connolly Cup as Silver looks to blood the next generation of first graders and representative players.
“We have been on the edge of having good seasons for six or seven years but have never had enough depth,” Silver said.
The move might also be an attempt to breathe some fresh life into the district following Mornington having to fold its first grade due to lack of numbers.
Tall keeper Pat Rankmore will take the gloves and will be hoping to glove a few edges from young quick Lachlan King.
Luke Curvegen is back from uni and will bat in the middle order.
Curvegen helped steer Albion into a finals berth last season and can get away if he gets a start.
Izaak Merlehan will take on the full-time spinner’s role with his offies, while Gander will add some experience to the top order, as well as offer a spin alternative.
Silver admits the side will be up against it playing a star- studded Tamworth side captained by Ben Middlebrook.
Middlebrook has hit a 180, a 101 and a 68 over the past two weekends against good opposition and could be very hard for the young attack to stop.
Selector Adam Jones said the side was very lucky to have the Old Boys captain in its ranks.
“He really knows how to get the best out of the young guys,” Jones said.
“He takes the pressure off Matty (Everett) who keeps and opens and knows the game very well.”
Jones has had to make some surprise selections after some debate about who is eligible for the side.
Silver wanted to “stick to the spirit of the 2nd XI competition” and not allow anyone who played in Tamworth’s Country Cup defeat last week.
Young offie Will Chesterfield has been given a dispensation and will play because he is under 19 years old.
Aaron Hazlewood, James Bellamy, Shaun Stevenson, and Will Howard are all missing from the Tamworth 2nd XI side that beat Armidale in the Country Shield last week.
Richie O’Halloran, Ben Semmler, Simon Toyer and Chesterfield will replace them.
The biggest shock selection is the return of Harrison Kelly to the representative fold.
Kelly found himself suspended for the majority of last season following a series of on and off-field blunders.
He has returned to West Tamworth this year and has too much talent to ignore, according to Jones.
The match will begin at 10am.
TAMWORTH: Adam Lole, Matt Everett, Ben Middlebrook (c), Simon Toyer, Harrison Kelly, Richie O’Halloran, Mitch Holt, Joe Holt, Jack Beaumont, Chris Coulton, Will Chesterfield, Ben Semmler.
GUNNEDAH: Ryan Cooper (c), Brad Gander, Izaak Merlehan, Lachlan King, Alister Hillard, Bryce Johnstone, Luke Curvegen, Blake Small, Brad Swain, Pat Rankmore, Kris Lodge, Jay Urquhart.