MVCA | Barooga, Cobram look to return to cricket pitch

By Daniel Webb

Oct 4, 2022

Back to back? Cobram will be looking to defend its MVCA A-grade premiership this season.

The Murray Valley Cricket Association will return to centre stage this weekend, with the 2022-23 season preparing to get under way.

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Four games will headline the opening round of action, with Cobram, Barooga, Katamatite, Tocumwal, Nathalia, Deniliquin, Berrigan, Katunga and Finley all fielding teams.

Last season it was Cobram who was crowned premiers, with the Tigers downing Katamatite in the final, and the men in yellow and black will be hoping to produce another winning season this year.

Speaking ahead of his side’s round one game against Tocumwal, Cobram coach Adam Harwood said his chargers were looking forward to getting back on the track.

“A few of them haven’t had much of a break between footy and cricket so there will be a few slow starters,” Harwood said.

“I think the competition is going to be a lot stronger this year, we’ve kept all of our squad together and added a few more so we think we’ll be pretty strong again.”

Adding to an already impressive Cobram squad will be Lachlan Hyde who returns to the club after playing in Geelong, while fellow all-rounder Matteo Allen comes back after a year off playing with the Murray Bushrangers.

“I think the competition is going to be really even so I’m looking forward to seeing how strong it is,” Harwood said.

While Cobram takes on Tocumwal, across the river Barooga will battle it out with Finley, with the Hawks missing out on a finals berth by just 0.14 per-cent last season.

Club captain Kale Watkins said it was exciting to get back into it.

“We’ve had some good numbers at training,” Watkins said.

“We are a successful club and we’re really hoping we can get back into the finals again."

Despite losing a couple of players, some new additions to the Hawks squad are sure to make an impact.

Among those fresh faces is the club’s new coach Brendan Lewis, while Zac Law is sure to boost the sides batting stocks after making the move from Yarrawonga.

Add to this a number of top age under-16s coming through from last season and things are looking up for the club.

“Our goal is to get a really good culture in the club,” Watkins said.

“We want to hit the ground running and bank a few wins early.”

Despite ominous weather looming throughout the region, cricket supporters and players alike will be hoping the rain holds off and round one can get under way on schedule.