In an association initiative, the competition’s nine teams will contest this season’s newly named Kennedy Builders Premiership Cup after the Mulwala-based building company.
Under new playing coach Brendan Lewis, the Lakers will host Rovers United/Bruck in a one-day, 40-overs game starting at 1.30pm at Victoria Park’s Stan Hargreaves Oval.
One-day games will be played for the first five rounds before the two-day matches.
Terry Brear is in his fourth year as Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club President. “There’s a lot of excitement both on and off the field,” he told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“We have a new coach in Brendan Lewis who is a solid contributor with both bat and ball. New recruits include Pigeons’ footballer Harry Wheeler, an allrounder.
“Harry will be handy. He played cricket at Seymour. We have other footballers Bailey Fraunfelder and Ned Mullins, as well as kids coming through including Jack Kennedy, Joe Kennedy (cousins) and Zac Fraser.”
Star batsman Matt Casey seems to be the only absentee from last year’s runners-up team. Casey sustained a bad football injury and is working in Melbourne. “We’re still working on him to play this season,” 46-year-old Mr Brear, a mechanical maintenance team leader at Thales in Mulwala, said.
Brendan Lewis missed last year’s grand-final with injury but is raring to go for season 2019/20 in his new role.
“It’s a huge honour for me, to have the support of the executive committee and respect from the players as coach,” the 26-year-old Water Dynamics Yarrawonga employee said.
He is very keen to fast track the development of juniors and from the senior team’s point of view, wants to go one better this season in view of last year’s “heartbreak”.
A Reserve plays this weekend and will be captained by Leigh Fraser. Veteran strike bowler Gus Browning will be lining up again. “He’s getting good shape with the ball still,” the club president said.
The hard working efforts of experienced personnel in preparing grounds and wickets was acknowledged.
“Gary Athanitis and Michael Sheehan are doing a great job preparing Vic Park,” Mr Brear said. “Justin O’Brien is doing a truck load amount of hours at Lonsdale Reserve Mulwala. We’re fortunate to have two wonderful cricket ovals.
“Alistair Mitchell is running the juniors and doing a great job. Our committee is working hard as we have some exciting projects at Vic Park.”
B Grade also start this weekend along with the Under 16s and 14s, C Grade and Under 12s will start the following week. The Friday evening competition will be underway in November.
Andrew Kennedy of Kennedy Builders said he was very pleased to have naming rights of the WDCA Premiership Cup.
“I won it in a raffle!” the man popularly known as ’Slanger’ said. “Terry Brear rang me to see if I’d buy a $150 ticket. We were lucky enough to win it as the major sponsor.”
Cricket supporters are encouraged to get down to Vic Park this Saturday and throughout the season. “The bar will be open and there are plenty of smiling faces,” Mr Brear said.
“It’s all looking good for season 2019/20. Any new player wanting to play for us is most welcome to come along to training on Tuesday and Thursday nights.”
In other news, the former Yarrawonga Footballers Cricket Club will have a reunion on Saturday, November 23 at Vic Park, commencing at noon. A Grade will be in action and everyone is invited to the reunion.
