October 9, 2020
Cricketers of all ages eager for the 2020-21 season to get under way in the South Burnett will have their wishes fulfilled this weekend with the opening games of the local season scheduled.
Junior members of the Nanango Scorpions were practising hard last weekend ahead of the opening rounds with a special training session led by former Queensland coach and representative player Terry Oliver and pace bowling coach Vic Williams.
Scorpions’ vice-president Brett Burrows told southburnett.com.au the club was very lucky to be able to get coaches of the calibre of Oliver and Williams to assist the young players – and he was very grateful to the South Burnett Regional Council for the financial assistance which had made the two days of training possible.
“The grant covered part of the cost but without their help it wouldn’t have happened,” Brett said.
This is the second year in a row the coaching duo have come up to Nanango to take the youngsters through their paces.
The training was divided into two sessions – for younger and older players – with a total of about 35 cricketers taking part.
After warm-up sessions, they were led through fielding drills as well as batting and bowl practice.
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B Grade
The South Burnett’s B Grade and junior cricket competitions are getting under way this Saturday.
There are seven teams taking part in the 2020-21 B Grade competition which will consist of two rounds of 40-over games and one round of T20s.
Round 1 B Grade games this weekend are:
- Cherbourg v Murgon Diggers at Murgon State High School
- Kingaroy Services v Warriors at Taabinga State School
- Kumbia Rattlers v Wondai Wolves at Kumbia Sportsground
- Nanango Scorpions – bye
Junior cricket also returns this Saturday.
In the Stage 3 competition, Kingaroy will take on Nanango at Taabinga State School. Murgon has the bye.
In Stage 2, all teams have been called to Nanango Sportsground for a muster game. The competition will start in earnest on October 17.
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A Grade
Two South Burnett teams are taking part in the 2020-21 Gympie competition this year: Murgon Crusaders and Kingaroy (Southern District Devils).
This competition – which will consist of T20, 40 Over and two-day games – actually began on September 19, but the order of rounds has become a bit jumbled.
Last Saturday, four A Grade games – a mix of scheduled Round 3, 4 and 5 matches – from the T20 competition were played at Murgon Sportsground.
Murgon Crusaders defeated Western Gympie and Harlequins on the main field, while Kingaroy (Southern District Devils) took on Western Gympie and Harlequins on the Stables field.
Devils were defeated by Harlequins but proved too good for Western Gympie.
It’s going to be a big another weekend for Murgon Crusaders this Saturday with two matches on their dance card.
Murgon will first take on Kingaroy in a delayed Round 1 T20 game from 9:00am at Lyle Vidler Oval in Kingaroy.
Crusaders will then hit the highway to face Gympie Valleys in a Round 4 T20 game at Murgon Sportsground from 1:30pm.
