Elliot Stevenson
Photo Credit - Hutch's Photos
It’s a new look Kingborough side that will take the field against Clarence on Saturday, in what promises to be a thrilling rematch of last year’s 2-day grand final.
The Knights will be without much of the side that saw them lift both the one-day and 2-day trophies last season, but their continued faith in young talent has seen them perform well early in 2024-25.
Captain-coach Tom Martyn is one of those premiership stars who will be missing, but he insists his team will cover any losses.
“The continued development of our younger guys has been fantastic,” he said.
“We’ve got Paddy Harnwell, James Scott, and Jack Ross all into the 11 and taking up big roles.
“Those guys have been crucial in our early season results which has been pleasing.”
Jake Vincent will come into the side to replace Martyn.
Clarence will be aiming to win back-to-back games after beginning the season 0-3.
The Roos won in close fashion over South Hobart-Sandy Bay, with opener Caiden Workman making 98 off 129 balls.
Martyn is aware of the threat Clarence possesses but is excited by the prospect of a competitive match.
“Obviously, a grand final rematch against a side that we really rate, so it’ll be good to test ourselves against a really good quality side,” he said.
Clarence will also play on Sunday against Lindisfarne at Kangaroo Bay.
University host Greater Northern Raiders on Saturday, before travelling to the TCA Ground to take on North Hobart on Sunday.
The Lions will be refreshened from last week’s bye but face a difficult task in the ladder leading Raiders.
The arrival of Aidan O’Connor into the Greater Northern lineup has seen an already strong side potentially staking its’ claim as the benchmark of the competition.
University then faces a fourth-placed North Hobart side looking to respond to a resounding defeat to New Town last weekend.
North Hobart also plays on Saturday, taking on South Hobart-Sandy Bay at Queenborough.
The Sharks were narrowly defeated by Clarence last week despite the efforts of Sean Willis (118 off 104 balls).
They will host two games over the weekend, with the second a clash of two teams looking to drag themselves off the bottom of the ladder against Glenorchy.
In a one-day competition in which every point is crucial, winning two games in two days could be a season defining event, but losing both could be disastrous.
Glenorchy is another side who will play a double-header, with the first coming against a New Town outfit which sits 2nd.
Inform Bucks batsman Jayden Vince will look to continue his stellar form, having made 106 off 117 balls against North Hobart last time out.
In the women’s competition, Greater Northern Raiders will face Clarence in a T20 double-header at Invermay Park on Sunday.
The Raiders sit 3rd on the ladder, having won two of their four games, and will be looking to mount a challenge against both New Town and North Hobart as they face a winless Clarence side.
Captain Ava Curtis will be providing a threat with the bat, coming into the games with an average of 51.
The other matchup sees the two sides perched at the top of the ladder, New Town and North Hobart, battle it out in a solitary T20 at New Town Oval on Sunday.
The emergence of 12-year-old Bucks seamer Audrey Farrelly has turned heads around the competition, with the youngster taking 6-24 against Clarence last weekend in an extraordinary spell.
North Hobart will be out to spoil the party as they did last weekend, when they defeated New Town by seven wickets with just two balls remaining.