After enjoying the opening round of the Armidale Cricket season on the sidelines, Hillgrove are set to head out on to the pitch this Saturday for their first match against Guyra.
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Incumbent captain Matt Schaefer said he has a full contingent of players to choose from for the first day of the two-day encounter with the club’s core group of first graders back for another season as well as a handful of new recruits.
“I just finalised team selections today [Wednesday] and we have actually got 13 available so it is a pretty good problem to have early on,” Schaefer said.
“We picked up a new guy and we have a couple of guys ready to step up from second grade as well.
“Bails [Matt Baillie] was gone for most of last year but it looks like he is going to be back for at least the start of the season so that is a massive in for us.
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“He actually messaged me through the week and said he has put on a bit of condition so not to expect too many overs out of him.
“Andrew Brownlie is now going to be around, he had a school reunion on, that got cancelled and Dick Heagney had his wisdom teeth out last week and he wasn't going to be around but he was at training and was keen to go.
“We look alright, Kingy [Brad King] is going around again, he is keen.
“Will Archer, Max Laurie and Will Waterson have been in the nets for the last couple of months so they are keen as well.”
Their task this weekend is to topple a Guyra side who are burning after suffering a one-wicket loss to premiers Easts in round one.
“The Guyra tail wagged a little bit and obviously they bowled really well,” Schaefer said said of the Guyra-Easts clash.
“Obviously having Tyson [Burey] and Jacko [Matt Jackson] there bolsters their attack a lot.
“Mitch Woods is great cricketer. He is probably one of the better cricketers to come out of Armidale in reality.”
Schaefer’s counterpart for the coming clash in Guyra captain Matt Jackson has already eyed off the Hillgrove skipper as a key wicket for his side.
“This weekend I think we need to show a bit more determination with the bat and value our wickets,” Jackson said.
“If we can do that I think we will give Hillgrove a real run for their money.
“I’m expecting a massive year from Matty Schaefer so, like always, getting him out early is a priority.”
Schaefer is hoping his opening batsmen can delay him from stepping up to the pitch.
“Hopefully I don't have to bat early, hopefully our openers and top order can get through a bit and I can have a bat later in the afternoon,” he said.
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