By Nick Creely
DDCA TURF 1
PREVIEW – ROUND 1
BUCKLEY RIDGES v SPRINGVALE SOUTH
Park Oval, 12:30pm
This is the fixture that most avid DDCA fans lick their lips in anticipation for.
And it’s the perfect way to kick off the Turf 1 season.
The great rivals have played many heated, extraordinary games of cricket, and this looms as no different at Park Oval.
Some changes in personnel from both sides won’t change the prospect that this will go down to the wire and provide many moments of tension.
The Bucks will be led by Ben Wright this season, while the Bloods also have a new skipper in Paul Hill, and despite the changes both loom as premiership fancies, so an early win and some momentum is crucial.
As Park Oval usually produces, expect some heavy run scoring, with some frightening firepower from both teams likely to leave spectators weaving for cover.
The contest between ex-State quick Jayde Herrick (Springvale South) and ex-Test batter Mahela Udawatte (Buckley Ridges) looms as an absolute beauty, while it’ll be fascinating to see how the new-look Buckley bowling attack will operate against a pretty power-packed Bloods batting group.
There’s no shortage of excitement, but it’s pretty hard to go past Buckley, who rarely go down at home and play the surroundings beautifully.
NORTH DANDENONG v ST MARY’S
Lois Twohig Reserve, 12:30pm
On paper, the opening round clash between the Maroons and Saints – who finished sixth and seventh last season – doesn’t appear to be the biggest drawcard of the round, but it’s an intriguing fixture that will indicate a lot about both sides’ prospects.
Both clubs have made an effort to fill some gaps in their list, and to address concerns that held them back from seriously contending for finals in 2020/21.
The Maroons were ultra-competitive, especially late last season, and with skipper Clay McCartney, and the likes of the returning opener Austin Heldt, recruit Sanjaya Rodrigo and star all-rounder Javed Khan all looking to make an impact, will be hoping to rack up the runs.
Maroons president Jason Shaw told Star News that the club was looking forward to further growth this season.
“We will continue to grow from the late season momentum of 20/21, invest in our coaching group, develop our playing list and build our club camaraderie,” he said.
“We now have a great group of guys who enjoy playing together.
“(We) want to be in Turf 1 and want to win.”
The Saints will also eye this fixture as one where they can make an early-season statement. The club recruited Raveen Kalumshehara from the Maroons to bolster the batting, but appear the more stable of the two sides on paper.
Skipper Wendyl Pires has an impressive bowling unit – led by Kusan Niranjana and Deeshan Vimukthi at his disposal – and will be hoping to really ramp up the pressure.
Expected this one to be low-scoring, and for the Maroons to just have enough firepower at home to get the points.
BERWICK v NARRE WARREN
Arch Brown Reserve, 12:30pm
There’s no doubt that the Berwick unit will start as favourites to kick off the season, but writing off the youthful, enthusiastic Narre Warren unit would be foolish.
The Bears start new life under skipper James Wilcock on Saturday and have once again been an active member of the off-season and appear primed for a shot at two flags in three seasons.
But a Round 1 clash against the reigning Turf 2 premiers is a fascinating one.
The Magpies are basically rolling out the same side that triumphed last season, while the Bears are coming off a thrilling grand final loss but have some new personnel.
It’s a certainty that the boundaries will flow with both sides loving to take the game on with the blade, and at the Arch Brown Reserve which usually suits batters with the white ball, expect a hefty first innings total.
The Bears are going to be hard to pass at home, with the likes of Damith Mapa Ralage, Matt Chasemore, Jordy Cleland and Brodie Emmett leading the charge with the bat, while with the ball Andrew Perrin will be exciting to watch, Jarrod Goodes is still going strongly and new leggie Riley Siwes is a talent.
But the Magpies – led by all-rounder Cam Dinger – will give them a nudge, but may not be quite ready to topple the Bears away from home.
NARRE SOUTH v HALLAM KALORA PARK
Strathaird Reserve, 12:30pm
The reigning premier travel to Narre South in what looms as a tricky encounter to kick off their title defence.
But the Hawks – who plucked one of the great premierships of the last two decades – are primed and ready to surge towards back-to-back flags.
Steady is probably the best word to describe the Hawks, with Jordan Hammond’s side basically rolling in with the same group as grand final day last year, so it could spell for the Lions who’ve lost two stars in Scott Phillips and Josh Dowling.
Strathaird is certainly a group that the Lions have made a fortress and will back themselves in to really test the Hawks, but Kyle Hardy’s side is a bit of an unknown, so it’d be a tough ask to knock off the reigning premiers straight off the bat.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Lions take their wickets without two of their stars departing the club, but there’s enough firepower in the ranks to pull off the upset if they get there game up and running early.
However, the Hawks should get their premiership defence off with a win.
