First round of grade system

Grampians Cricket Association has divided its teams into A and B grade competitions for the remainder of the season, according to results of pre-christmas play.

A Grade consists of Swifts-great Western, Pomonal, St Andrews, Chalambar and Rhymney-moyston; while Swifts-great Western, Halls Gap, Halls Gap 2 and Rhymney-moyston make up B Grade.

All teams retain the points they had earned in the preliminary rounds.

B Grade competition starts on Saturday, with A Grade a week later.

Scheduled B Grade matches are: Swifts-great Western v Rhymneymoyston at Great Western and Halls Gap v Halls Gap2 at Halls Gap.

The Combine versus Rhymston may turn into a run benefit for the Combine’s Travis Nicholson.

He is the association’s leading run-scorer and with A Grade not playing, may step down in this match.

At Halls Gap, both teams play each other for the first time. Gappers 2 have struggled for players at times this season, so in order for a game to go ahead, both teams might play a few short.

Junior tourney

Under-age teams participated in Central Highlands region’s Junior Country Week competitions in under-13 and under-15 divisions with mixed success.

The under-15 team reached the final but lost to a strong Gisborne team.

Better players were Brady Mcmahon and Jacob Dunn.

The under-13 team failed to make the final but were best served by Ryder Sullivan and Tom Collins.

The under-17 Kirton Shield is contested this week, with the final on Friday. The shield is named in honour of the late Ewan Kirton, a long-time Victorian Country Cricket League secretary and Ballarat resident.

Combine to represent

Swifts-great Western represents the Grampians in the Sungold T20 Cup, conducted by Warrnambool and District Cricket Association, on Sunday.

The Combine earned the right to play after they won the Henry Gunstone Twenty20 Cup. They play Irrewarra Cricket Club, of Colac and District Cricket Association, at Dennington no.1 Oval commencing at 4.30pm.

If successful, they will return the weekend after Australia Day to play in finals.