Strong Albany and Districts Cricket Association teams gear up for junior country week campaign in Perth

The Albany and Districts Cricket Association will send three strong teams to the junior country week in Perth when it starts on Monday, including their reigning under-16A premiers. The annual five-day tournament runs from January 8-12 and the ADCA will send an under-16 side, who will be defending last season’s title, and two under-14 outfits. The Albany under-16 A-section side claimed a momentous victory last year and captain Buddy Robinson said his side was eyeing back-to-back titles. “We want to at least make it to the final at the WACA and then hopefully we can win the whole thing,” he said. “The competition is not as strong as last year because a lot of the older kids have moved up, so I think we will be a very strong chance.” The entire touring under-16 side has had experience in senior grades at their respective clubs, with a strong contingent playing A-grade cricket. Robinson (Collingwood Park), Regan Christensen (Manypeaks), Oliver Douglas (Manypeaks), Max Osbourne (Mt Barker), Davey Wignall (Royals) and Harry McLeod (Railways) have all played regular games of A-grade in the first half of this season. “We have a very good team and we have played a lot of cricket with and against each other,” Robinson said. “There’s a few boys from Denmark and we have played previous carnivals with and against them and a couple of scratch matches, so we all know each other.” The under-16 team will go into action on Monday with a T20 doubleheader at Richardson Park against Bunbury, followed by Busselton-Margaret River. They will then play three 50-over fixtures in consecutive days against Broome, Geraldton and Wellington. Finals will be played on Friday, with the under-16 A decider being contested at the WACA. Under-14 A, who will be led by captain Dash Germinario, face Peel and Bunbury in their T20 doubleheader on Monday, followed by 50-over matches against Busselton-Margaret River, Geraldton and Wellington. Grand finals will be played at College Park. Oliver Harrington will lead the under-14 B side, who will play just two T20s and two 50-over matches. Under-14 B play West Pilbara in two T20s to kickstart their tournament before one-day matches against Eastern Districts and Eastern Goldfields. Semifinals will be played at Gwynne Park on Thursday, January 11, before the grand final the following day at the same venue. Junior Country Week Teams 16A Buddy Robinson (C) Davey Wignall Harry McLeod Hayden Leo JP Swart Jake Swarzbach Lochy Otway Lucas Smart Max Osborne Ollie Douglas Regan Christensen Ryan Hick Coach: Darryl Robinson Assistant: Mal Hick 14A Dash Germinario (C) Cooper Barlow Evan Pretorius Archie Wilson Lucas Baker Mason Webster Max Robinson Robson Nielsen Samuel Osborne Tristan Kirkwood Angus Clarke-Smith Jensen Brayshaw Coach: Paul Osborne Assistant coach: Paul Nielsen 14B Oliver Harrington (C) Alex Wright Archer Coglan Campbell Hare Owen Pretorius Oscar McSweeney Henry Stone Leo Cunningham Levi Ravenhill Lewis Bailey Matthew Cant Patrick House Coach: Graham Wright Assistant coach: Russell Hare