The Mudgee Senior Cricket season for 2015/16 has been one of change and this weekend it will begin to reach the business end with a new finals format as well.
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This year is a three division format; Firsts will see the top four teams of the division in action, Seconds is the bottom two teams of first division and the top two of second division, and the Plate will be the remaining three teams of the competition.
This follows on from a season of change for the local competition, in past years there would have been simultaneous First Grade and Reserve grade competitions.
Mudgee District Cricket Association president Phil English said that overall the reworked competition has been positive and well received.
“All teams have played within the spirit of the game, whether it be a traditional First Grade side versus one of the Second Division sides, the respect for the other team has been wonderful and the feedback has been very good,” he said.
“The grading system – although it’s had a few hairs on it as we’ve worked our way through it – has had a really good outcome and been very positive.
“I think it will set a future platform for us for the upcoming seasons.
“For a small town to continue to produce 11 teams has made it an outstanding season and the Association looks forward to a competitive finals series in all three divisions.”
Lawson Park Firsts lived up to their name and topped the First Division table on 61 points, ahead of defending champs McDonald-Lawson on 55, Golf Club just behind on 51, with Lawson Park Country rounding out the finalists on 43.
“There’s no surprises in the top three of First Division, they would have been the traditional first grade sides [in the old format] so we expected them to fill up those positions,” English said.
“The order has been interesting, McDonald Lawson are the defending premiers and they’ve been pipped by Lawson Park Firsts for the minor premiership, while Golf Club who’ve got a strong side on paper are in third.
“All three of those sides are genuine title contenders and based on form from the past seasons Lawson Park Country will give it a shake as well.
“It may sound like a throwaway line, but it’s who turns up on the day will take out the game and I think we’ll see some upsets again this year.
“McDonald Lawson came from fourth spot last year [to win the competition] and they had a very young side.”
He added, “in Second Division we’ve got four teams [Oriental, Home Decor, Woolpack, and Carpet Court] all split by one point, so it’s been remarkably competitive”.
Another new addition to the local competition in 2015/16 was night cricket under Victoria Park’s powerful new lighting, installed prior to the season.
“It’s outstanding, the facilities lend themselves to a really exciting brand of cricket and the night games have been a huge coop for the association and Mudgee,” English said.
“The players have also really embraced it when they’ve had the chance to play under it.
“It just opens up so many opportunities, whether it be short-form Twenty20 or the 50-over games, it’s a credit to Council that they took the initiative and we’ll look to use it even more than we have this year in future.”
Mudgee District Cricket Association 2015/16 finals, week one
First Division
Lawson Park Firsts v Lawson Park Country, Cahill Park
McDonald-Lawson v Golf Club, Victoria Park
Second Division
Paragon v Home Decor, Walkers Oval
Lawson Park Reserves v Oriental, Glen Willow
Plate
Woolpack v Lawson Park Town, Gabba1
*Carpet Court straight to Grand Final from first place
