Fresh from the success of 2020/21, the Newcastle District Cricket Association’s (NDCA) Suburban Districts division one competition will welcome five new sides to the crease this season.

Newcastle City Adamstown Rosebuds, Adamstown CC Premier Hotel, Wests DCC Water Board, Wests DCC Journeymen and Nelson Bay CC have the opportunity to shake things up when it all gets underway on Saturday 30 October.

But, they’ll face plenty of resistance from the likes of defending premiers Mary Ellen Mudrats, Merewether DCC, Port Stephens Pythons, Redhead CC and Wallsend DCC.

And, that in itself should provide a ton of action.

“Suburban Districts is the biggest comp in the NDCA,” secretary Aaron Gray said.

“We have six divisions, with 10 teams in each, equating to 60 sides.

“A lot of them have 20 or so guys in their squad, too.

“While it’s great to see Newcastle City Adamstown Rosebuds, Adamstown CC Premier Hotel, Wests DCC Water Board, Wests DCC Journeymen and Nelson Bay CC in firsts this year, it’s terrific to witness the emergence of a couple of new clubs in Maryland Fletcher CC and Adamstown CC, too.

“However, we’re always looking to improve it.”

One debutant keen to make its mark is the Rosebuds.

“It’s good for the competition having the new teams in it,” all-rounder Jackson Milne said.

“We’ll share our ground with Adamstown CC Premier Hotel and, hopefully, we’ll have a few good games there.

“We played A grade in C&S a couple of seasons ago and then dropped back down.

“This is our first time in [Suburban Districts] division one.

“But, everyone’s pretty excited and, I think, it’s a good comp.

“We should be fairly competitive – we’ve faced a few of these sides previously in A grade and second division last year.”

The Rosebuds lock horns with the Wests DCC Journeymen at Jesmond Park for the early bragging rights.

But, Milne’s not expecting too many surprises.

“Ironically, we played them first up before,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.

“So, it will be good to renew our rivalry.

“Our goal is to make the finals.

“I’m confident we can do that.”

In other encounters this weekend, Adamstown CC Premier Hotel hosts the Port Stephens Pythons at Adamstown Park Oval # 2, Merewether DCC meets Wests DCC Water Board at Connolly Park, Redhead CC tackles Wallsend DCC at Liles Oval #1 and Nelson Bay CC goes head-to-head with the Mary Ellen Mudrats at Don Waring Oval.

All matches start from 1pm.

Newcastle District Cricket Association

Suburban Districts division one

Round 1 (Saturday 30 October):

• 1pm: Adamstown CC Premier Hotel v Port Stephens Pythons (Adamstown Park Oval # 2)
• 1pm: Merewether DCC v Wests DCC Water Board (Connolly Park)
• 1pm: Nelson Bay CC v Mary Ellen Mudrats (Don Waring Oval)
• 1pm: Redhead CC v Wallsend DCC (Liles Oval #1)
• 1pm: Wests DCC Journeymen v Newcastle City Adamstown Rosebuds (Jesmond Park)

Division two

• 1.30pm: Beresfield Memorial v Redhead CC (Lindsay Memorial Park)
• 1.30pm: MDCC Carrington Gravity Riders v Nelson Bay CC (Pat Jordan Oval)
• 1.30pm: Wests DCC Water Board v Wests DCC Journeymen (Blackley Oval)
• 1.30pm: Port Stephens Pythons v Maryland Fletcher CC (King Park 5)
• 1.30pm: Warners Bay CC v Kotara CC (Feighan Oval #1)

Division three

• 1.30pm: Beach Hotel v Stockton & Northern Districts DCC Generals (Myamblah Cresent – synthetic)
• 1.30pm: Hillsborough EDCC v Valentine Eleebana (Hillsborough Oval)
• 1.30pm: Stockton & Northern Districts DCC Washingtons v Wallsend DCC (Ballast Ovals 2)
• 1.30pm: Adamstown CC Dukes v Warners Bay CC (Lewis Oval – synthetic)
• 1.30pm: Maryland Fletcher CC v Wests DCC Water Board (Bill Elliott Oval)

Division four

• 1.30pm: Kotara CC v Waratah Mayfield DCC (Lugar Park)
• 1.30pm: Adamstown CC Slashers v Westlakes Renegades MFCC (Mandalong Oval, Adamstown)
• 1.30pm: Valentine Eleebana v Edgeworth DCC (Valentine Soccer – synthetic)
• 1.30pm: Maryland Fletcher CC v Merewether DCC Nepalese (Kurraka Oval – synthetic)
• 1.30pm: Warners Bay CC v Newcastle City DCC Sabres (Feighan Oval #2)

Division five

• 1.30pm: Valentine Eleebana Green v Hunter Taverners (Marks Oval – synthetic)
• 1.30pm: Adamstown CC Brown Munde v Port Stephens Pythons (Myer Park – synthetic)
• 1.30pm: Teralba BIllygoats WBCC v Kotara CC (Tredinnick Oval 1 – synthetic)
• 1.30pm: Waratah Mayfield DCC v Warners Bay CC (Waratah Park Oval #5 – synthetic)
• 1.30pm:  Redhead CC v Valentine Eleebana Gold (Liles Oval #2 – synthetic)

Division six

• 1.30pm: Waratah Mayfield DCC v Maryland Fletcher CC (Waratah Park Oval #4 – synthetic)
• 1.30pm: Kotara CC Fireballs v Gateshead Tavern WBCC (Nesbitt Park – synthetic)
• 1.30pm: Valentine Eleebana v Adamstown CC Hunters (Ernie Calland Field)
• 1.30pm: TWDCC Mudcrabs v Warners Bay CC (Water Board Oval – turf)
• 1.30pm: Newcastle City DCC Blues v Beresfield Memorial (Adamstown Park Oval #5 – synthetic)

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