Adelaide Hills Cricket 2012/13 (HCA, TVCA, A&EH)

[Koll Joll Roll]

Meadows didnt have a D Grade last year dutchy just need to look on the website and see that they missed out on the C Grade Finals. They had 6 under 17's playing in there D Grade on the weekend and a couple of A Graders that will not be there this week to make up numbers as they were short. Hardly Big Fish stuff just trying to keep a second side for the best interest of their Club i would think.

A Super League is the only way out for every club involved. Needs people with BALLS to get it happening.

[The Bowler]

For example the club that nominated 3 teams, forfeited their lowest team on Saturday, struggled to fill their 2nd team (with juniors and blokes playing their 1st ever game) so what happens now..... do they go back to the association and say sorry guys we don't have the players for a 3rd team, so we go through another competition re-draw. Clearly they should have "sured" up their playing stocks (last season) and not assumed they would be returning. Incompetence, arrogance and mis-management!!

There were 2 clubs that fit this bill. AEH C grade (a seven team comp as one club has already pulled out after initially nominating a team) had a Bye and 2 forfeits. Only one match was played for the round in this grade! Perhaps moving to a 5 grade comp was premature.

[Pinarello]

There were 2 clubs that fit this bill. AEH C grade (a seven team comp as one club has already pulled out after initially nominating a team) had a Bye and 2 forfeits. Only one match was played for the round in this grade! Perhaps moving to a 5 grade comp was premature.

Oh I didn't realise that. Which club nominated, then pulled out?

5 teams in C grade comp is a joke. With D grade now going to 8 teams, a grade that a bye would most likely be welcomed by the players, it would be a good idea to re-draw both grades, as a big a pain as that is.

Not sure what will happen - but it looks like a 5 grade comp for A&EJH was a little premature.

[The Bowler]

Not sure which club nominated then pulled out but there were definately 8 teams initially nominated in each of the 5 grades up until a week or two ago.

[Dutchy]

Meadows didnt have a D Grade last year dutchy just need to look on the website and see that they missed out on the C Grade Finals. They had 6 under 17's playing in there D Grade on the weekend and a couple of A Graders that will not be there this week to make up numbers as they were short. Hardly Big Fish stuff just trying to keep a second side for the best interest of their Club i would think.

A Super League is the only way out for every club involved. Needs people with BALLS to get it happening.

Ah OK, it was the season before I was thinking about, seems strange not to keep them up in C grade though where they might be better prepared for an A grade call up.

[Silverfox_77]

Why would the TVCA be interested in joining a "Super League"? We have 8 teams in A and B grade which worked really well last season and hopefully again for this year. There is good competition in the A Grade and i'd be pretty certain that no club would be willing to travel the distances required.

[The Bowler]

There already is a super league for those who wish to play in one - its called Grade Cricket!

[2jox]

Why would the TVCA be interested in joining a "Super League"? We have 8 teams in A and B grade which worked really well last season and hopefully again for this year. There is good competition in the A Grade and i'd be pretty certain that no club would be willing to travel the distances required.

TVCA should have been considering something a few years ago before the 2 best teams went to a different competition. Sure the HCA could follow their lead, let meadows etc go elsewhere and just let 8 - 10 b grade side play in the "A-Grade" but I don't think that's the idea.....

[2jox]

There already is a super league for those who wish to play in one - its called Grade Cricket!

You have clearly missed the point of the previous posts; its about making HILLS cricket as strong as possible (in terms of playing numbers and performance level). Comedian.

[Lightning McQueen]

There already is a super league for those who wish to play in one - its called Grade Cricket!

You have clearly missed the point of the previous posts; its about making HILLS cricket as strong as possible (in terms of playing numbers and performance level). Comedian.

You should try attracting high profile players to play in your comp.

[Pinarello]

Why would the TVCA be interested in joining a "Super League"? We have 8 teams in A and B grade which worked really well last season and hopefully again for this year. There is good competition in the A Grade and i'd be pretty certain that no club would be willing to travel the distances required.

TVCA should have been considering something a few years ago before the 2 best teams went to a different competition. Sure the HCA could follow their lead, let meadows etc go elsewhere and just let 8 - 10 b grade side play in the "A-Grade" but I don't think that's the idea.....

Spot on 2jox.

In affect that is what the TVCA is now - B graders pretending to be A graders. I can however appreciate the travel factor.

[saintal]

Really enjoyed the comprehensive and well researched TVCA season preview in the Courier yesterday...

Yes, I'm now up with all the latest in the TVCA.

How did things go on the weekend saintal?

Sorry FH, better late than never I spose..

In brief:

Mt Torrens easily accounted for Birdwood. But with 4 or 5 new faces in their A grade, and an encouraging first up effort in the B Grade it looks as though Birdwood could be in for a better year.
The Pirates knocked off Cambrai in a surprisingly high scoring game up at Cambrai. Paracombe appeared to have a few bowlers out.
Gumeracha gave us a fair belting, with Cam Sumner not missing a beat with 80 odd. Sean Kav bowled very well. We were ordinary.
Eden Valley defended 90 odd against Palmer. Both teams have been inconsistent with the bat over recent times. Rathjen a handy 4/4.

This week sees the start of some 2 day games:

Gum v Mt Torrens- Game of the round. Mt Torrens will miss C. Young’s bowling early in season. Gum to win.
Palmer v Cambrai- Could go either way.
Birdwood v Paracombe- Visitors would fancy their chances of an outright here
Eden Valley v Lenswood- EV oval has been a graveyard for us, but hopefully we can buck the trend this week.

[Dogwatcher]

Hills cricket wrap

http://wp.me/p1Tnfg-O3

[Silverfox_77]

Why would the TVCA be interested in joining a "Super League"? We have 8 teams in A and B grade which worked really well last season and hopefully again for this year. There is good competition in the A Grade and i'd be pretty certain that no club would be willing to travel the distances required.

TVCA should have been considering something a few years ago before the 2 best teams went to a different competition. Sure the HCA could follow their lead, let meadows etc go elsewhere and just let 8 - 10 b grade side play in the "A-Grade" but I don't think that's the idea.....

Spot on 2jox.

In affect that is what the TVCA is now - B graders pretending to be A graders. I can however appreciate the travel factor.

I don't understand what is meant by "considering something a few years ago". Do you have an understanding of why those 2 clubs left the association? You seem to think that Lobethal and Woodside made the TVCA. We are doing perfectly fine without them. From alot of the posts i'm reading, it seems as if all the problems are with the HCA and A&EH competitions. As for "B graders pretending to be A graders", there are plenty of quality players who would easily slot into any of the A grade sides from other associations. Also, where did A&EH finish in the recent Meyer Shield compared to the TVCA even after the move of those 2 clubs?

[The Bowler]

You have clearly missed the point of the previous posts; its about making HILLS cricket as strong as possible (in terms of playing numbers and performance level). Comedian.

Dropping the stand up for just a few minutes, If anyone thinks that creating a super league in the hills would strengthen local cricket then they are misguided. All this would do is create an elite competition for the stronger and more successful clubs from each of the 3 associations whilst marginalising many of the smaller clubs which are in essence the fabric of Hills cricket. This would see many of the smaller clubs, whom are the majority, squeezed out, fewer opportunities for fringe, younger, older and poorly skilled players to participate and in return, less people playing our great game. Cricket struggles to attract people at present and this is quite evident from the posts of AEH and HCA bloggers. We know and acknowledge that this is due to a range of factors but time commitments and flexible easy pathways for participation are high on the list - see Cricket Australias recent survey results on this issue. A super league flys in the face of these survey results and would in fact compound the problem. I understand why it has been touted for several years now, and that is to facilitate a higher standard of cricket played consistently within a competition each week, but I don't believe a Super League approach will achieve the intended objective. It would simply benefit a relative few already successful clubs to the detriment of cricket in the wider hills community. Thats my bit, please feel free to agree, comment, argue, dispel, disregard, slander, or assassinate.

[Pinarello]

Why would the TVCA be interested in joining a "Super League"? We have 8 teams in A and B grade which worked really well last season and hopefully again for this year. There is good competition in the A Grade and i'd be pretty certain that no club would be willing to travel the distances required.

TVCA should have been considering something a few years ago before the 2 best teams went to a different competition. Sure the HCA could follow their lead, let meadows etc go elsewhere and just let 8 - 10 b grade side play in the "A-Grade" but I don't think that's the idea.....

Spot on 2jox.

In affect that is what the TVCA is now - B graders pretending to be A graders. I can however appreciate the travel factor.

I don't understand what is meant by "considering something a few years ago". Do you have an understanding of why those 2 clubs left the association? You seem to think that Lobethal and Woodside made the TVCA. We are doing perfectly fine without them. From alot of the posts i'm reading, it seems as if all the problems are with the HCA and A&EH competitions. As for "B graders pretending to be A graders", there are plenty of quality players who would easily slot into any of the A grade sides from other associations. Also, where did A&EH finish in the recent Meyer Shield compared to the TVCA even after the move of those 2 clubs?

To be perfectly honest the A&EH does not need a super league either, the top tier 8 team A grade comp will be far better than the 10 team comp last year. Its more about a better structure throughout A2, B, C Grades etc, not too mention the juniors. Yes A&EH had a poor Meyer shield, and not for the first time! How about the juniors, think you'll find the A&EH record in Fuller, Callaby & Figg is pretty handy, certainly better than TVCA. And where do our good cricketers come from..... a solid junior structure.

This entire conversation is only my opinion of how cricket in the Adelaide Hills (and near surrounds) could improve. My comments are also based on playing & coaching cricket in the district for over 30 years - In both A&EH, Adelaide Turf & TVCA. I know both the local comps, and I know which is stronger in an overall club sense. While the courier cup competition has many faults, we generally see the best club in the hills win it - Lobethal, Meadows, Woodside, Nairne.

Anway good luck to all those having a game this weekend, enjoy your cricket!

[BALLHOG]

So how many sixes will the little hobbit Andy Duncan get smashed for this comming fixture.

[kickittome]

After seeing the results of the teams that were dropped out of the a grade (b. callington, mt barker and echunga) all lost there first games in lower grades, shows that the right decision was made for the a grade comp to be less teams this year. Strath missed out on outright vs the creek a bit of lower order resistance saved them in the end. Should be a close one this week with nairne playing at strath, nairne not having won on turf vs strath for a few years.
Woodside looking good too must have plenty of depth. They had a bloke named Kennedy in the a2s get 130 no and six wickets quite impressive! Should deserve a call up this week you would think?

[hereselmo1]

First look at the Happy Valley pitch on the weekend.

That is ridiculous. The tennis ball bounce was at times comical and even the locals didn't seem to impressed with it.

[Pinarello]

Round 3 A&EH
Selections for the coming round -

Sat 27 Oct, 3 Nov(1:00 PM) Strathalbyn v Nairne Strathalbyn Oval - Nairne are a quality team, and despite not having a great record on the turf I expect they will win.

Sat 27 Oct, 3 Nov(1:00 PM) Ashbourne v Langhorne Creek Ashbourne Oval - The Creek have been poor to date, will give the nod to Ashbourne on their home ground.

Sat 27 Oct, 3 Nov(1:00 PM) Woodside v Wistow Woodside Oval (no. 1) - Wistow have improved, but Woodside will be too good for the Echidna's.

Sat 27 Oct, 3 Nov(1:00 PM) Hahndorf v Lobethal Hahndorf Oval - Looms as a very interesting battle and could go either way. Lobethal have been sluggish, and Hahndorf were looking down the barrel after being skittled for 76 at Nairne. Will pick Lobethal, but only just.

Any other thoughts guys??