General News
5 July, 2024
New format, new president in Upper Loddon cricket
A MIX of game formats, scheduling flexibility and a new leadership have won the backing of Upper Loddon Cricket Association clubs for the 2024-2025 season. Delegates on Monday night voted to introduce a T20 competition. The short-format will be...
A MIX of game formats, scheduling flexibility and a new leadership have won the backing of Upper Loddon Cricket Association clubs for the 2024-2025 season.
Delegates on Monday night voted to introduce a T20 competition.
The short-format will be played in December and January with a grand final likely on the Australia Day weekend with clubs playing for the Loddon Herald Cup.
The season, including one-day and two-day matches, is expected to start on October 12.
The association’s senior competition will return to five teams with a combined Bridgewater and Inglewood joining premiers Arnold, Boort Yando, Kingower and Wedderburn.
Delegates at Monday’s annual general meeting elected Bridgewater’s John Daldy president.
He defeated Wendy Murphy in a ballot of club delegates.
Michael Rose also stood down as secretary after 39 years. He also previously served four years as association president. He is succeeded in the position by Bridgewater’s Claire Harrison.
Arnold’s Ryan Metelmann is vice-president.
Clubs voted to give clubs flexibility in finals when affected by hot weather with time changes now able to be made.
There had been criticism last season that no heat rule was in place for the finals after one match was played in stifling conditions, the same day other sporting codes started finals earlier in the day.
The likely return of two-day matches next season will see clubs able to name 14-player squads for successive weekends of play.
Delegates spent more than two hours amending by-laws. Clubs had submitted proposed changes after two crisis meetings within weeks of last season ‘s finish to discuss the association’s future.
Both the senior and junior competitions had reduced to four teams and Arnold investigated moving to one of two neighbouring associations.
However, with the decision of Inglewood and Bridgewater to return as a combined team - Inglewood last played in 2019 and Bridgewater two seasons ago - the 125-year-old Arnold club committed to staying in Upper Loddon.
The crisis meetings also saw clubs bring forward the annual meeting to give confidence in a new season,
Following his election, Daldy thanked Murphy and Rose for their contributions to the association over many years.