CRICKETERS across the Gisborne district are raring to go this week, with competition for the 2025/26 season finally unleashing on Saturday.
It looks set to be a season of change in the Gisborne District Cricket Association (GDCA), with new teams arriving in the Johnstone Shield, a simplified Jensen Shield and Wallan re-admitted into the McIntyre Cup following its Johnstone Shield success in March.
Saturday’s opening stand will see teams don their colours for a one-day game across the board, with the opportunity for a springboard to start the season on the right note.
The Magpies’ opening game of the season will see them travel to Tony Clarke Recreation Reserve to take on Macedon. With the Cats finishing in sixth position last season, both teams will see it as an opportunity to start off strongly.
Broadford’s second season back in the McIntyre Cup sees it negotiate a difficult task first up, with reigning one-day premier Woodend first up at Woodend Racecourse Oval.
Third and fourth from last season meet at Romsey Recreation Reserve when Romsey host Sunbury United.
As ever, the second XI competition reverses the draw, with Wallan hosting Macedon at Greenhilll Reserve and Broadford hosting Woodend at Harley Hammond Reserve. Romsey, in the meantime, will travel to Sunbury United.
In Johnstone Shield, there has been a great scope of change in the competition, with three new teams creating an eight-team competition.
Aintree has departed for the North West Metro competition, but Harkness and Lancefield have stepped up from Jensen Shield, and along with the relegated Sunbury Kangaroos, ensures there will be no bye for teams throughout the season.
Lancefield’s first game in the competition will see it with a tricky assignment, with Eastern Hill, fresh off a grand final defeat, looking to go one step further this season as it starts the season at Lancefield Park.
Kilmore just missed out on finals last season and will be hoping for a good start when it travels to John McMahon Reserve to take on East Sunbury.
Kilmore’s seconds will host its opening game of the season at the Kilmore Cricket Ground against East Sunbury, while both Lancefield teams will host its opening game, with the seconds doing battle with Eastern Hill on the second oval at Lancefield Park.
The Jensen Shield has been split into two divisions.
Romsey and Wallan will compete in the Seconds competition, with Romsey hosting Macedon and Wallan hosting Trentham in the first round next week.
Kilmore will play in the Thirds, travelling to Diggers Rest in the opening round.
Four new clubs are in the Club North competition, with a 12-team competition set to make the jockeying for finals spots of utmost importance when the competition begins the following week.
Hanging Rock, Romsey, Kyneton and Riddell all join the league, with Romsey’s first game seeing it make the trip to Kings Park to take on Eastern Hill.
Lancefield will host Wallan at Lancefield Park, while Broadford will host Riddell at Broadford High School. Finally, Kilmore and East Sunbury will do battle at LB Davern Reserve.
Also starting next week is the Seymour District Cricket Association (SDCA), with Avenel joining the fray to make it a seven-team competition in A grade.
Reigning premier Tallarook will have to wait for its first matchup, having the bye.
Three T20s will be played on October 11, with Seymour hosting Puckapunyal in its first game at Chittick Park.
Pyalong will travel to Alexandra to play its first game, while Yea Tigers and Avenel will be the other game.
Tallarook’s B grade team will take to the park in an eight-team competition, hosting the Seymour 59ers at Tallarook Recreation Reserve.
Seymour Cobs and Puckapunyal will open proceedings at Chittick Park, while Pyalong and Alexandra will also do battle, with both games curtain-raisers for the A grade game.
