AFTER being bundled out of the War Veterans Cup and then last weekend the Country Shield, Armidale will be looking to finally get some rep joy when it faces Manilla in the Connolly Cup tomorrow.
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It had the first-round bye and has named a strong side for the trip.
“The team we’ve got is very well balanced,” Armidale rep convener Brad King said.
“There’s a mix of youth and experience.”
Most of the side is their seconds team with the exception of skipper Brad Smith, Adam Sweeney and Scott Brennan.
The three were part of the firsts side that was belted by Tamworth in the Country Shield last week.
“Brad said he wanted to go back and help the young guys out,” King said.
Sweeney is still only relatively new to the rep scene.
King said the left-armer is bowling quite well at the moment and expects him to take the new ball with Andrew Skinner.
Smith was the top-scorer last weekend and will be one of the keys with the bat along with Josh Croft and Tom Armitage.
All three have regularly figured in the rep sides and are at the experienced end.
At the other end of the spectrum are the likes of Alexander Brown and Ben Laurie.
Both are coming through nicely, King said.
In Laurie’s case he’s seen that first-hand, having coached him through the juniors.
Tomorrow will be his first taste of senior rep cricket.
Another new face is Matt Hudson.
“He’s only new to town,” King said.
Rumoured to have played NSW U19s, King got his first sighting of him last week when their two sides played.
“He bowled pretty well and hit the ball hard,” he said.
For Manilla, tomorrow will be a good warm-up for its next McDonald’s Country Plate assignment.
It’s due to play Upper Hunter in the second round next Sunday.
ARMIDALE: Brad Smith (capt), Josh Croft, Tom Armitage, Ben Laurie, Aaron Whackett, John Elliott, Matt Hudson, Adam Sweeney, Scott Brennan, Alexander Brown, Andrew Skinner.
