By Tara Murray
St Anthonys is set to make the move back into the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup, with Riddell requesting to drop down to B-grade for the 2018-19 season.
In the draft team gradings released last week, St Anthonys has been promoted to the top grade, as has Wallan, which won the B-grade premiership last season.
GDCA president Rob McIntyre said a number of clubs requested to drop down grades because of loss of players (mainly retiring veterans) and a decrease in player numbers.
“Riddell has lost most of its McIntyre Cup team from last season and has asked to drop to B-grade,” McIntyre said.
“[Mick] Allen, [Haydn] Ross, [Matthew] Livingstone, [Cameron] Moran, [Matthew] Darby and [James] Hughes are not playing cricket this season while [Craig] Ballinger and [Max]Scott have asked for clearances back to Sunbury.
“Daniel Fisk will lead a very young group this year.”
The decision for Riddell to drop back has opened the door for St Anthonys, which finished runners-up in the B-grade competition.
Saints coach Cameron Clayton said they would jump at the chance to play in the top grade.
“Thursday last week we found out we could be going up,” he said. “We got a phone call and had a chat about it.
“We found out on Friday that it was confirmed.
“It wasn’t long to know before the season, but we’ve got a pretty good system in place and are prepared for it.”
Clayton said despite not having much preparation, the playing group was excited for the challenge.
He said there is a lot of hunger after falling short last season.
“We’ll play it out and we think we will be competitive,” he said.
“We don’t want to go up and then get relegated straight up like last time.
“The club is in a better position than four years ago.”
Riddell isn’t the only team to request to down grade its top sides.
Lancefield, which played in McIntyre Cup, has asked to drop to C-grade.
The Tigers finished ninth but were stripped of points for playing an unregistered player in round 11, which saw them drop to last and facing relegation to B-grade.
McIntyre said the Tigers will be fielding just one senior team this season after losing a number of players.
Macedon, which finished eighth in B-grade, has requested to drop down to C-grade after losing players.
Sunbury United, Rupertswood and Woodend, which were the top three teams in C-grade last season, have all been promoted to B-grade.
McIntyre said the association was feeling the affect of people dropping out of sport because of too many other commitments.
“Cricket, along with football and other sports, is seeing a bit of a downturn in senior numbers right across the state at present.
“Clubs in other regions are amalgamating or shifting associations.
“The drop-out is mainly within ages 20-25 and 35-39.”
