New-look BPCA set to be unveiled

A NEW look BPCA will be unveiled this summer, with just eight teams to make up the association’s coveted A-grade.

All divisions will be slashed to eight in a facelift that is set to make Bellarine cricket more competitive and less one-sided.

The association’s top division, which will be called A1, will most likely be made up of Anglesea, Collendina, Ocean Grove, Drysdale, Barwon Heads, Barrabool, Jan Juc and Portarlington — the top eight teams from last season.

Meanwhile, A2 will be made up of Winchelsea, Inverleigh, Queenscliff, Little River, Wallington and Newcomb, with St Leonards and Armstrong Creek to be offered first dibs for the final two spots.

If Armstrong Creek believes it won’t be competitive in A2, then Ocean Grove’s seconds would be next in line.

A major part of the BPCA restructure is the concept that teams — not clubs — will be promoted and relegated each season.

For example, if Ocean Grove and Jan Juc’s seconds were to play off in the B-grade decider, they’d be promoted to A2 the following season.

But a club won’t be permitted to have two sides in the same division.

BPCA president Ian Caldwell said the restructure would allow for even fixtures, with teams to play one one-dayer and one two-dayers against each of their seven opponents over 21 weeks.

The restructure also gives more teams the chance to play finals, with four from each eight-team division to qualify.

Inverleigh president Marcus Warton said he was in favour of the restructure.

“Our club was pretty strong on wanting to vote yes for it,” he said. Clubs that finished outside the top eight last season can make a case to start this summer in A-grade, but the association is unlikely to make changes.