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Cessnock, Singleton cricketers pad up for Coalfields Cup

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Bragging rights, and the Coalfields Cup, will be up for grabs when teams from Cessnock and Singleton district cricket associations lock horns again from this weekend.

The tournament, which enjoyed plenty of success in 2020-21, features five outfits from Cessnock – inaugural champions Bellbird, Greta/Branxton, Mulbring, Piranhas and Wine Country – and five combatants from Singleton – Creeks, Glendon, JPC, PCH and Valley – in one unique competition.

“We kicked off the Coalfields Cup last season,” CDCA secretary Mark Bercini said.

“It was staged over one full round on a trial basis, with the proposal to go to two full rounds in 2021-22.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 delayed the start of the competition this year and only left enough weeks to play one full round again.

“But, a new six-team semi-final format has been implemented to create extra interest at the business end of the season.”

With clubs busy retaining and recruiting players in the off season, Bercini has provided a sneak preview of what to expect from 4 December.

2021/22 COALFIELDS CUP

BELLBIRD (Cessnock)

Last season: Premiers (Coalfields Cup), runner-Up (CDCA)

Captain: Joey Main

Premierships: Twelve (1930-31, joint 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98, 1998-99, 2001-02, 2006-07, 2009-10, joint 2012-13, joint 2013-14, 2014-15, 2020-21 [Coalfields Cup]).

Gains: Nil

Losses: Nil

Strongest line-up: Pete Brennan, Jason Orr, Ben Fairlie, Joey Main, Rob Drage, Nic Seirs, Matt Shreiber, Joey Millington, Joey Barber, Billy Orr, Scott Miller, Zach Kronholm

Prediction: 1st

CREEKS (Singleton)

Last season: 9th (Coalfields Cup), 4th (SDCA)

Captain: Blake Cook

Premierships: Seven (1993-94, 2004-05, 2009-10, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17)

Gains: Nathan Stapleford (Newcastle University), Mark Unicomb, Steve Unicomb, Chris Unicomb (Muswellbrook Souths)

Losses: Nil

Strongest line-up: Myles Cook, Chris Unicomb, Clint Harmon, Bayden Mulholland, Steve Unicomb, Nathan Stapleford, Gavin Wake, Warren Gillespie, Jarrod Campbell, Blake Cook, Daniel Tracey, Mark Unicomb

Prediction: 4th

GLENDON (Singleton)

Last season: 8th (Coalfields Cup), 3rd (SDCA)

Captain: Jack Turner

Premierships: Six (1992-93, 1994-95, 1995-96, 2000-01, 2011-12, 2014-15)

Gains: Nil

Losses: Tom Stacy, Scott Griffiths

Strongest line-up: Spencer Brian, Beau Parnell, Daniel Higgins, Jack Turner, Antony Bailey, Cael Smith, Pat Fitzgerald, Drew Nelson, Max Willis, Ben Butler, Cooper Bailey, Ollie Gunn

Prediction: 8th

GRETA /BRANXTON (Cessnock)

Last season: 3rd (Coalfields Cup), Premiers (CDCA)

Captain: Joey Butler

Premierships: Four (2004-05, 2007-08, joint 2013-14, 2020-21)

Gains: Jace Lawson (Belmont), Eddie Fisher (returning), David Condran (returning)

Losses: Kyle Hall (not playing), Hayden Regan (not playing)

Strongest line-up: Joey Butler, Mark Bercini, Nathan Holz, Josh Dagg, Jace Lawson, Reuben Andrews, Greg Andrews, Cliff Newling, Darren Thomson, Will Regan, Brent Watson, Patrick Andrews

Prediction: 5th

JPC (Singleton)

Last season: 10th (Coalfields Cup), 5th (SDCA)

Captain: Stuart Johnstone

Premierships: One (2006-07)

Gains: Brandon Carman (local junior), Mathew Sidebottom (Newcastle C&S)

Losses: Matt Parish (knee injury)

Strongest line-up: Ashley Borg, Brandon Carman, Kye Dann, Luke Dempster, Shane Givney, Stuart Johnstone, Andrew Knox, Dave Moorcroft, Hayden Moorcroft, Mathew Sidebottom, Alex Thrift, Daniel Thrift, Greg Thrift

Prediction: 9th

MULBRING (Cessnock)

Last season: 5th (Coalfields Cup), 3rd (CDCA)

Captain: Ben Neaves

Premierships: Fourteen (1971-72, 1992-93, 1994-95, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2010-11, 2011-12, joint 2012-13, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20)

Gains: Hilal Abbas (Bellbird), Willie Whitelaw (returning)

Losses: Aaron Halls (family commitments), Jason Varoxis (Wallsend)

Strongest line-up: Ben Neaves, Cameron Ross, Josh Lewis, Zach Sneesby, Scott Robertson, Drew Olsen, Mick Mascord, Hilal Abbas, Chad Lewis, Adam Sheehan, Willie Whitelaw, Willie Watson

Prediction: 6th

PCH (Singleton)

Last season: 7th (Coalfields Cup), Premiers (CDCA)

Captain: Jackson Cox

Premierships: Seven (1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2001-02, 2018-19, 2020-21)

Gains: Brad Cox (returning), Pat Denniss (returning)

Losses: Andrew Winsor, Glen Winsor (both not playing)

Strongest line-up: Brad Cox, Pat Denniss, Jackson Cox, Jake Mackaway, Abe Jones, Hugh Smith, Danuel Bell, Jake Daniels, Dan Oldknow, Jack Shade, Barton Jones, Don Keys

Prediction: 3rd

PIRANHAS (Cessnock)

Last season: 6th (Coalfields Cup), 5th (CDCA)

Captain: Matt Hopley

Premierships: Seven (1970-71, 1972-73, 1973-74, 1977-78, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1983-84)

Gains: Matt Metcalfe (returning), Nathan King (Mulbring), Ben Duncan (Kurri-Weston)

Losses: Matt Zechel, Daniel Russell, Adam Sable (all Kurri-Weston), Michael Philpott (Maitland Norths), Bailey Robinson (not playing), Tyson Johnson (Chelmsford Hotel), Matt Brodie (not playing)

Strongest line-up: Matt Hopley, Aaron Sweeney, Mark Crowfoot, Fletcher Sharpe, Nathan King, Matt Metcalfe, Karandeep Maramreddy, Ben Duncan, James Collins, Luke Sweeney, Ben Read, Dane Grills

Prediction: 10th

VALLEY (Singleton)

Last season: Runner-Up (Coalfields Cup), Runner-Up (SDCA)

Captain: Isaac Barry

Premierships: Seven (2002-03, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2017-18)

Gains: Nil

Losses: Daniel Bray, Tully Winsor

Strongest line-up: Nathan Bagnall, Jacob Carey, Isaac Barry, Daniel Storey, Simon White, Brendon Nichols, Daniel Hayes, Tristan Muir, Brad Maher, Sam Barry, Tate Edwards

Prediction: 2nd

WINE COUNTRY (Cessnock)

Last season: 4th (Coalfields Cup), 4th (CDCA)

Captain: Andrew Fensom

Premierships: Thirteen as Wentworth Hotel (1958-59, 1962-63, 1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1982-83, 1984-85, 1985-86, 1989-90, 1990-91, joint 1991-92, 1996-97)

Gains: Steve Abel (Kurri-Weston)

Losses: Jack Morris (work)

Strongest line-up: Andrew Fensom, Mark O’Hara, Matt Lightfoot, Rob Sidebottom, Sam Peacock, Josh Dwyer, Ben Wood, Hudson Smith, Brendan Briedenhann, Luke Jeans, John Barrett, Steve Abel

Prediction: 7th

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