Warren-Blackwood Cricket Association start training for country week

The Warren-Blackwood Cricket Association is gearing up for another exciting country week as former rivals met on Monday to train ahead of the competition. Twenty-nine players from across the Warren-Blackwood competition signed up to take part in the annual event, which sees country sides from all over WA descend on Perth to see who can boast having the best country cricket squad. Warren-Blackwood will be fielding two teams, a B and E-grade squad, made up of five Boyup Brook players, three from Bridgetown, nine from Forestry, four from Manjimup, four from Northcliffe and four Pemberton players. Warren-Blackwood team co-ordinator and B-grade player Braden Gibellini said he was confident both teams would do well across the competition. “We will be competitive but take it as it comes, if we play well together we will be alright,” he said. With 12 players under 21 years old Gibellini said the week would be a good learning curve for the players going into the future. He said country week was always very enjoyable for those who traveled up. “It is always good fun, do plenty of fun stuff,” he said. The B-grade squad fixtures include a match against Albany and Districts 2 on January 16 with their next game against West Pilbara 1 on January 17 before taking on Peel 2 on January 19. The E-grade team is scheduled to play Peel 5 on January 16, Esperance 2 the following day before taking on Northam/Wyalkatchem 2 on January 19. The last two matches for E-grade include ties against Great Southern 2 on January 20 and finishing with a game against Kalgoorlie Boulder 1 on January 21.