EASTS will be almost full strength when the Armidale first grade competition leaders tackle Armidale City in their Armidale One Day Final at New England Mutual Armidale Sportsground today.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 45-over-a-side game, timed for a 12.45pm start, pits the competition-leading Easts against an Armidale City side bristling with all-round talent.
Easts have been in good form all season and deserve their competition lead.
They go into the match without Will Frost and Jock Cartwright.
Frost, just back from Europe playing rugby union, was one game short of qualifying for the one-day final while paramedic Cartwright has been transferred in his work.
“We’ll have Will until he goes back to Uni in Newcastle,” Easts skipper Sam Uphill said.
“He missed out by a game to qualify for the one-day final.
“Jock’s been transferred down south.
“We were hoping he might be able to come back for the finals.”
Even still, Uphill has a strong side, the majority of whom have been playing all season.
“We’ve been pretty consistent all year,” he said.
Uphill and Sam Constance will open the bowling for Easts again, with Tyson Burey “to come down the hill”.
“Justin McKay could be a handful on the Sportsground deck too,” Uphill said.
“And then we have the two spinners, Matt Jackson and Todd Francis, as well.”
Jackson and Francis will also bat three and four for Easts after openers Dean Moore and Nathan Porter.
Moore has been in outstanding form all season.
Armidale City goes into the one-day final at full strength, skipper Steve Butler said.
“We’re unchanged for the first time this season,” Butler said.
“That’s a big plus for us.
“We’re confident we have a pretty well-balanced side although we do have eight middle order bats.
“Our strength is our bowling,” he said.
That puts a bit of pressure on opening bats Brad Smith and Kyle Taylor to give the side a good start along with Paul Woodford junior and Hugh Reckord.
Opening bowler Karl Triebe, their attacking spearhead, bats at five.
Triebe, skipper Butler, Matt Morrow, Andrew Skinner and Adam Sweeney will be the key bowlers.