SUNDAY’S Country Shield game between Orange Colts and Cowra is a step into the unknown.
The Country Shield is a new competition introduced this season which is a step between the SCG Country Cup, which Orange plays in, and the Country Plate.
Orange District Cricket Association president Mark Frecklington said entering a team in the Shield was about grabbing an opportunity.
“There are three teams from the Western Zone in the Shield and they needed a fourth team. We thought we’d help them out,” Frecklington explained.
“It gives some of our under 21s and fringe under 21s a game.”
Cowra, Mudgee and the Blue Mountains will also contest the Shield.
The Orange side features under 21s players with a few senior representatives added in.
“They’re not all colts but most of them are,” Frecklington said.
John Warrington has been named as the Orange Colts captain with Stu Crisp the vice-captain.
Frecklington said Warrington was an easy selection as captain.
“He was certainly willing and interested and he’s captained junior sides before. We saw the potential,” Frecklington said.
“There are experienced players there to help out our younger guys.”
Possibly the biggest challenge for the young Orange side is playing against open teams.
That doesn’t mean Orange won’t be competitive.
“They’re certainly going in there to win the game,” Frecklington said.
The ODCA president said playing in the Shield was an unknown.
“We don’t really know what to expect from some of them. It’s good to give fringe players a run and see how they go,” Frecklington said of the young players.
“This is a bit of our exploring and building process.”
Should Orange win Sunday’s game, they will take on the winner of the match between Mudgee and Blue Mountains on November 4.
If they keep winning, they could go to the Shield finals which will be played in Cowra on December 29 and 30.
Sunday’s game between Orange and Cowra will be played at Riawena Oval from 10am.
A 12th man for the Orange side is still to be named.
ORANGE COLTS: John Warrington (c), Stu Crisp (vc), Tom Bristow, Matt Corben, Adam Cowden, Charles Foran, Gus Griffiths, Ed Morrish, Nick Roweth, James Ryan, Jonno Warren.