CRICKET
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TAMWORTH Veterans will host the NSW Seniors Cricket State Championships from October 18.
It is a five-day carnival attracting teams from all over the State.
Tamworth Veterans Cricket secretary David Head believes it wil be another success with 14 teams entered in two divisions.
“Veterans Cricket has been played for over 10 years in NSW and has gone from strength to strength,” Head said.
“Tamworth staged the inaugural State Championships in 2011 and were the winners of that Carnival.
“Since the inception of the State Championships, team numbers have increased from 8 to 14 with the carnival being divided into two divisions.
Division A play for the Peter Richardson Trophy, while Division B play for the Doug Crowell Plate, named in honour of the Tamworth Veterans Cricket stalwart and current club president.
“Visiting teams this year come from Sydney (2), Central Coast, Newcastle, Mid North Coast (2), Armidale, Lismore, UNEX (ex UNE Armidale), Quirindi and
Lithgow. “Veterans cricket is one of the fastest growing sports in NSW.
“It’s a chance for older players to keep swinging the willow, keeping active and fit as they do. It’s competitive, but it’s competitively social. “Everybody wants to take wickets and everybody wants to make runs – but it’s more about having fun, and everybody enjoys themselves immensely.
“For the more competitive players the State Carnival is a stepping stone to selection in the NSW teams who compete in the national titles, which this year are being held in Hobart during November.
“The Tamworth Veterans Cricket Club have had a large number of state representatives and boast Albie Barwick, Bob Haling, Peter Virgen and Doug Truman as players who have represented Australia.”
Such has been the success of veterans cricket in the city it had enough players for “two and a half teams”.
“We have a “composite” side entered into Divison 2 which excess players from the Tamworth squads and available players from other regions will play to ensure that everyone who wants to play, gets a game,” Head said.
“Anyone not listed in the named squads and wants a run in the championships, even if it’s just one or two matches, can contact us.”
TAMWORH DIVISION 1
Chris Crowell (capt), Tom Kellett, Bob Haling, Peter Boyd, Barry Everingham, Greg Kellett, Rob Kahler, David Head, Graeme Whitten, Terry Murphy, Steve Beaton, Ian Kitching.
TAMWORTH DIVISION 2
Ron Farrell (capt), Peter Virgen, Mike Cashman, Graeme Davies, Brian Heyman, Kingsley Agnew, Brian Wellings, Denby Budden, Laurie Johnson, Arthur Yates, Michael Morgan, Phil Coffey, Rob Laurie, Doug Truman, Doug Crowell, Alan Littlejohn, Col Barton, Noel Cook.