ARMIDALE City Cricket Club is hoping a bit of pink might brighten its prospects against competition leaders Easts when they clash in tomorrow’s Armidale first grade clash at Armidale Sportsground.
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The Stephen Butler-captained side is coming off a big loss to nemesis Hillgrove Colts last Saturday where Hillgrove made 208 and then dismissed City for just 71 in their first innings and had them reeling at 5-117 in the second innings of the two-day game.
“It was a disappointing effort,” Butler admitted.
“We got in a rut and couldn’t get out.
“We also played on a soft wicket and they bowled well too.
“But Hillgrove have been our achilles heel for years.
“We’ve got to turn that around come finals time.
“We play Easts on Saturday. They have been the form team and playing with all the pink gear might be a good distraction for us.
“It might take our minds off last week and focus on playing well and for a good cause.
“We’ll be playing in pink caps, pink pads and some of the boys have even gone out and bought some pink sunglasses.
“We’ll make a bit of a day of it.”
City’s pink day might also serve as a rallying point for a possible link with a junior club.
“We don’t have any juniors,” Butler said.
“We just have the senior sides.
“But that doesn’t mean we’re just a pub-sponsored team.
“We would love to have junior teams and create a bigger family atmosphere.”
Armidale City formed from the old Churches club, a club that was formed around uni students.
It’s a big weekend for Butler.
He is also skipper of the Moxons Bakery team in the New England Mutual Big Bash T20.
His side won the NEM Big Bash last year but is neck and neck with Armidale Sportspower for a berth in next week’s T20 Final at NEM Armidale Sportsground.
“ADDA Constructions are already through to the final no matter what happens in their game against Ex-Services,” Butler said.
“Whoever wins between us and Armidale Sportspower will go through to the final.”
ADDA Constructions and Ex-Services play the early game (5.15pm) while Moxons Bakery and Sportspower begin their KO clash at around 7.30pm.
NEW ENGLAND MUTUAL BIG BASH TEAMS
Round 3 - tonight.
ADDA CONSTRUCTIONS v
ARMIDALE EX-SERVICES
5.15pm
ADDA CONSTRUCTIONS: Matt Schaefer (capt), Todd Francis, Dean Moore, Michael Dawson, Andrew Skinner, Adam Sweeney, Matt Hudson, Shaun Brennan, Clarrie Moran, Tom Armitage, Jack Bennett, Jim Piddington, Ben Jackson, Tom Toshack, Andrew Williams.
ARMIDALE EX-SERVICES: Cody Graham (capt), Karl Triebe, Luke Brown, Sam Uphill, Matt Jackson, Brayden Graham, Ben Hanlon, PJ Wright, Bob Kelly, Brad Rafferty, Alex Brown, Dale Northam, Nathan Withnall, Gary Yeomans, Matt Kenafake.
ARMIDALE SPORTSPOWER v
MOXONS BAKERY
7.30pm
SPORTSPOWER: Brad King (capt), Paul Woodford Jnr, Mitch Moore, Lochlan Elks, Kyle Taylor, Josh Croft, Ash Clee, Jason Boland, Scott Brennan, Justin McKay, Barry Lockwood, Max Laurie, Ben Marshall, Jimmy Sharma, David Schmude.
MOXONS BAKERY: Steve Butler (capt), Matt Baillie, Brad Smith, Bentley Cropper, Johnny Bowers, Harrison King, Matt Folpp, Will Frost, Will Archer, Matt Morrow, Nick Levy, Brad Widders, DJ Yeomans, Aaron Whackett, Andrew Parker.