Towns aim to get back to the top as new Upper Great Southern Cricket Association commences

Towns Cricket Club will be looking to return to the top of the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association this season, which will swing into action this Sunday. The 2018-19 premiers were knocked out in the first week of the finals last season but believe they can go further this season after a strong off-season. The 2020-21 season will again have seven teams battling for the premiership, with Lake Grace replacing Harrismith. Pingelly-Noonebin, Wandering, Cuballing, Dumbleyung, Williams and Towns all remain from last season. Towns captain Ben McMillan said he was excited about the year ahead. “We’ve gained a few in the youth department who, given the extra year, have shown that coming back a bit stronger will pay dividends for the season,” he said. “We are expecting a big season this year. “The lads have really seemed to click so far, which is always a positive sign. “We as a team and club are confident in making the finals if we work hard on and off the pitch but you never want to put a mocker on all-the-way talk. “I think the competition will be strong, as the Upper Great Southern always has been. “It’s never nice to have a team drop out of the A-grade and I wish Harrismith all the best — although we do gain Lake Grace, which we are looking forward to finding out what they bring in round two.” McMillan said he expected big seasons from a number of players, including Liam Sweeney, Ben March and Perrin Quartermaine. Jordan Draper-Gibbs, Liam Blechynden, Tom Munns and Mitch Ackland are just some of the young guns McMillan expects to impress. “It’s always hard to gauge the outs accurately this early in the season, but with a few lads cutting hay and others on work commitments we may lose a couple early but hope to have them back later in the season,” he said. “Our goal for this season is just us bonding and having the club successful both on and off the pitch and hopefully even have a few lads selected for country week representation. “Through Pete Baker (club president), Ellen Smith (social co-ordinator) and the committee, we have lots of family-friendly and after-hours events planned to help support both our A and B-grade sides.” Towns will face Cuballing at Cuballing Sport Ground on Sunday in round one.