Juniors invited to give the sport a go
A call out has been made for any keen kids to sign up and have a go at cricket this summer.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In an effort to boost the sport for juniors in Glen Innes, Shad Bailey and a handful of volunteers are running the Woolworths Junior Cricket Blast program at King George Oval on Thursday afternoons.
There's a scattering of young players who visit neighbouring communities to play cricket but Bailey wants to see the sport thrive in Glen Innes once again.
"Our dream is to get cricket back up and running as a competition for Glen but at the moment but it is purely to get our juniors back into the sport we love," he said.
"We want to be able to give that option for those kids to play and represent their own town and not have to go to adjoining towns to actually play cricket."
The Blast program runs for eight weeks with children aged from five to 14 years encouraged to sign up.
"It is all skills-based, that is what it is about - enjoyment of the game and learning of the fundamentals, how to catch, bowl and bat, just the basics of cricket and slowly build from there.
"We have kids of all levels and of all ages and we will accommodate everyone."
Next Thursday, October 29, will see a come and try day from 4pm at King George.
"We just ask everyone to come down and give it a go, that come and try day, to see what it is all about and if they enjoy it.
"There was plenty of new kids last year that absolutely loved it.
"We accommodate for everyone, girls as well, it is just a fun, family atmosphere.
"The bigger kids, the aim is to let them play cricket if they are ready for it.
"The little ones just do drills and play the little games.
"Parents can help and interact or we are happy for them to leave them there and come back at 5.30 and pick them up."
Active Kids vouchers are accepted for the program.
More information can be found at playcricket.com.au
Seniors start their season with a win
Glen Innes' 2020-21 cricket campaign in the Inverell District competition got off to a great start with three wicket win over the Mt Russell Rangers.
The visitors were sent out to bowl first and Kaleb Hope managed to nab Mt Russell opener Angus Harris for five.
Hope was involved in the next dismissal via a run out before Glen skipper Nathan Matthews scored the first of his three wickets.
Glen kept collecting wickets as the Mt Russell batsmen fell for 177 in just under 40 overs.
Wickets: Kaleb Hope 1-26, Brandon Levy 1-34, Nathan Matthews 3-28, Rojin Mathai Varghese 2-13 and Ethan Blatch 1-7.
With the bat, it was Brandon Levy who starred, scoring 110 of Glen's runs as they chased down Mt Russell Rangers' runs in 21 overs.
After the Glen Innes top three batsmen fell cheaply, the side were sitting at 3-24 until Levy arrived at the crease to belt his century.
Levy continued to power away as wickets fell around him and he remained for most of the innings until he was bowled when Glen were at 171. The next highest run-scorer was Hope with 21 while Jack Grob also made double figures with 10 not out. This Saturday, Glen are back at Cameron Park for a match up against RSM.