By Russell Bennett
The West Gippsland Cricket Association has announced the group of ‘Warriors’ who will make history next month by being the first to represent the competition at the Provincial level of VCCL Melbourne Country Week.
The Warriors moved into the top tier after a stirring performance in last year’s campaign and will this time around face the toughest challenge Country Week can offer from the likes of the Bairnsdale, Ferntree Gully and District, Geelong, Mornington Peninsula, Sale-Maffra, Traralgon and District, and Warrnambool and District cricket associations.
The 2019 incarnation of the Victorian Country Cricket League (VCCL) Melbourne Country Week will run from 18 to 22 February, with three rounds to be played from the Monday to the Wednesday and the finals held on Thursday and Friday.
The selected 14-man WGCA squad includes a host of experienced, and proven, Country Week performers – including a number who represented the association in its history-making run last year.
AJ Walker – Cardinia
Travis Wheller – Cardinia
Pat Lawson – Clyde
Daniel Lever – Clyde
Kiefer Peries – Clyde
Scott Clark – Devon Meadows
Matt Hutchinson – Devon Meadows
Kyle Salerno – Devon Meadows
Chris Bright – Kooweerup
Tyler Clark – Kooweerup
Mark Cooper – Kooweerup
Rob Elston – Pakenham
Ben Maroney – Pakenham
Jason Williams – Pakenham
Also part of the group’s support staff – once again headed up by WGCA legend Phil Anning – will be highly-respected umpire Mike McKenna, who has put his hand up for official scorer duties. The remaining members of the support staff will soon be announced.
The WGCA’s games over the first three days of the carnival will be:
- Monday (18 February): 10.15am, Bairnsdale v WGCA at Greaves Reserve #1, Dandenong.
- Tuesday (19 February): 10.00am, Geelong v WGCA at Camberwell Sports Ground.
- Wednesday (20 February): 10.15am, Warrnambool and District v WGCA at Bill Lawry Oval, Northcote.
