UGSCA 2023-24: Skipper Quartermaine looking forward to a solid A-grade season from strengthened Towns side

Towns Cricket Club captain Perrin Quartermaine is looking forward to the 2023-24 Upper Great Southern Cricket Association season, as the Narrogin-based outfit prepares to take on reigning premiers Cuballing in the opening round on Saturday. “We’ve had a good rivalry against Cuby for years so it’s a great one to start with,” he said. “They’ve probably had the wood over us a little bit recently so it’d be nice to get one back to kick the year off. “They’re always a good team to play against and enjoy a beer with after.” Key to claiming a round one win will be Towns’ ability to produce a winning score with the bat. “They’ve got a few boys that have been through the Country XI system, mainly bowlers, so it’s down to our batters to stand up to them,” Quartermaine said. “Hopefully, everyone can do their job and we can get the win.” Having returned to the nets five weeks ago Quartermaine said that Towns have enjoyed a good preseason ahead of the new season. “We feel like we’re stronger than last year,” he said. “We’ve got a couple of guys, Lega and Vagi, they played with us last season — it’s a pretty cool story. “They turned up in town last year and came down to cricket and we soon found out they’d played in the under-19 World Cup for Papua New Guinea 10 years ago or so. “They’re both very good wicketkeepers and they can both bat, we’re hoping now that they know the system they’ll settle in this year and play some good cricket, they’re good guys.” Last season’s captain Aaron Quartermaine and English import James Nicholson will be key players for Towns this season, leaving their A-grade side with an experienced and formidable side. Quartermaine said that the return of a past player and the confidence demonstrated by the club’s young guns also bode well for Towns. “Russel Cowcher has moved back, he’s a good all-rounder,” he said. “We’ll also have Sam Ellis, he’s a swing bowler and we’re excited to have him with us. “We feel like the team is driven by the young guys, players like Liam Sweeney, Nick Corner and Mitch Acklund. “We’ve got good numbers across both grades and the young guys are coming through older and stronger, that’s where we’re seeing growth.”