Centennials Bulls confirm they will field a team for new BOIDC season

Following the latest Bathurst District Cricket Association season Centennials Bulls announced they would not be fielding a team for the merged competition but have since changed that stance.

In Friday's BDCA meeting Bulls president Craig Windus confirmed the club would have the numbers to maintain a first grade team.

Their addition brings the BOIDC competition to an even 10 teams - five from each city - and eliminates the need for a bye in each round.

Returning BDCA president Campbell Graham said it was wonderful to see Cents get the required numbers to make their return.

"You want to go into the merge with even teams. When Centennials came back we definitely weren't going to knock them back," he said.

"All the clubs are grateful that we can go into this competition with an equal showing.

"We weren't going to ask Orange to lose a side. The onus was on us to try and make the draw even and we've done that."

Centennials won just a single game in the latest BDCA first grade season, though they were unfortunate not to add a few more to their name in several close defeats.

The team will be desperate to make an improvement but could lift their game when faced with a wider range of opposition.

"The club president came to me before their AGM to say they had tentative numbers, but not 100 per cent confirmed," Graham said.

"After the AGM they said they had returning players coming back who wanted to play. That led to them committing to the season.

"I can't speak for the Centennials club but I'm sure the allure of playing something different, where you get to play against players you've never played against before, played a role.

"It's an interesting challenge for players from both Bathurst and Orange."

ORC, who stepped down from BDCA first grade last season due to poor numbers, won't be taking part in the BOIDC competition.