CAVALIERS may be down on personnel heading into the 2012-13 Orange District Cricket Association first grade season but the former champions showed last weekend they’ll be more than competitive this summer.
Cavs travelled to the Hunter region to tackle tough Newcastle-based club Toronto Southern Lakes, a club featuring former Cavaliers Aaron Gray and Allen Sullivan.
Facing off in a 50-over match in the first game, Cavaliers bowled well to restrict Toronto to just 9-200 but were no match for the home side’s bowlers, dismissed for 183 with skipper Richie Venner top scoring with 66.
However, the Orange club’s fortunes changed in the following day’s Twenty20 fixture.
Again chasing after Toronto hit 7-140 in 20 overs, Cavaliers were led brilliantly by a knock of 82 from all-rounder Stuart Middleton, going on to win by five wickets after hitting 5-141 in the 18th over.
Venner was understandably upbeat about his side’s effort.
“They played St George first grade the week before so if we play at our best we’re going to be hard to beat,” the experienced campaigner said.
It was the club’s first hit-out of the 2012-13 season and it’ll be their only trial before the season proper begins with a Cavaliers versus CYMS match in round one on October 6.
“I thought we gave a good account of ourselves,” Venner said.
Cavaliers will be without Trent Colley and Luke Clarke this summer after both defected to CYMS while Beau Cox and Ant Spruce also won’t be back this summer.
Venner wasn’t worried though.
“We’re obviously a little bit thinner than last year but all that means is a few of the younger guys are going to have to step up,” he said.
“Certain guys are going to have to play a bigger role this year.”
The ODCA season begins on October 6.
