TAMWORTH District Cricket Association welcomes seven cricket teams to the city on Sunday for the McDonald’s Country Shield and Plate Finals, wishing them the best of luck and fortune while also celebrating the chance for its Second XI to win a first ever Country Shield.
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While Tamworth has won two SCG Country Cups, it will play in its first Country Shield semi- final when it matches up against Robertson-Burrawang at Riverside 2 on Monday.
TDCA secretary Hayley Bullock is the Country Shield and Plate Finals convener and said the Tamworth Second XI would play Robertson-Burrawang in its semi final at Riverside 2 on Monday with Cricket Albury Wodonga Colts playing Clarence River in the other semi-final at Dick Edwards Oval (Riv erside 1).
Winners progress to Tuesday’s Country Shield Final at No 1 Oval.
The McDonald’s Country Plate semi-finals will also be played in Tamworth on Sunday.
Cootamundra plays Wauchope RSL in their semi-final at Dick Edwards Oval with The Rail playing Blue Mountains in the other semi-final at Riverside 2.
The two winners play in Monday’s Country Plate Final at No 1 Oval.
“We’re good to go,” Bullock said.
“We’ve heard from all the teams.
“Some have fairly big drives to come.
“Albury Wodonga come from way down on the border and the Blue Mountains team has a fair way to come as well.
“But we are ready.
“‘Darren Goodger is the match referee and Bruce Whitehouse (Country Cricket executive officer) will be here as well.”
Hayley’s husband, Richard Bullock, is the Tamworth District Cricket Association president.
He, too, welcomes all the sides.
“It’s a big honour for us,” Richard Bullock said.
“It’s great to have our Second XI in the Shield as well.
“Ben (Middlebrook) has done a great job with these young guys.
“They’ve clicked from the start. We couldn’t be happier with the way it’s all coming together.
“The three grounds are in good nick,” he said of No 1 Oval, Riverside 1 and 2.
Dick Edwards Oval (Riverside) 1 had been causing some concern but North and Old Boys played there last Saturday and they said it played well.
“A few weeks off, a bit of rain and a curator coming down from Brisbane helped us,” Bullock said.
Middlebrook is confident the Tamworth side can excel despite missing a few outstanding players such as Aaron Hazlewood and Lachlan Davidson.
He has many bowling options while the batting has been strong, with both openers Adam Lole and Matt Everett in great form.
“It depends on what we are chasing and where the game sits,” Middlebrook said of the batting plan.
“But we bat right down too.
“ The main thing is to bat out our 50 overs if we bat first.”
Of Robertson-Burrawang, he knows little.
“I don’t know anything about them but they will be tough.
“It’s going to be a good challenge for us.”
TAMWORTH 2ND XI: Ben Middlebrook (capt), Matt Everett, Adam Lole, Simon Toyer, Harrison Kelly, Mitch Holt, Joe Holt, Jack Richards, Chris Coulton, Ben Semmler, Richie O’Halloran, Will Howard, Troy Osborne.
