It is going to be a busy Australia Day long weekend on the cricket field for Gulgong District Cricket Association, one they hope ends in triumph on Monday in the annual match against Mudgee.
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But before the Gulgong lads take on their southern neighbours in the Australia Day Challenge, the association must first play their annual “hit and giggle” tournament.
The Gulgong cricket 7-a-side cricket carnival will be played at Billy Dunn Park on Sunday.
The tournament enters its 18th year with 2013 the only time in the event’s history that it was not played because it was washed out.
Organiser and GDCA vice-president Brian Gudgeon said 22 teams had entered the tournament, which is on average with previous years and was the same number for the 2014 event.
There will be a swag of teams from Gulgong as well as sides from Mudgee, Mendooran and Goolma.
“We have a couple of strong teams playing. It will definitely make the competition a bit interesting,” Gudgeon said.
Defending A-grade champions Oriental Hotel have changed their name for this year’s tournament and will be known as the Federal Hotel Hawks.
The Hawks have been doing well in Mudgee cricket’s second division and will look to defend their title.
Goolma will have two sides and Gudgeon said they would be hard to beat.
“They are going to have one in the lower grades and the second one is in the A-grade division,” Gudgeon said.
“Ryan Kurtz, who plays [for Bowlers] in the Gulgong competition, has got a side of young fellas coming. That team includes the Golden boys, James Ford; so they will be pretty strong.”
There will be six teams contesting the A-grade and B-grade divisions, four in C-grade and six in the social competition.
The Gulgong 7-a-side is the association’s major fundraiser of the season.
It’s a mini-version of the Big Bash League where teams have a shorter number of overs than usual to score runs.
Each side has seven players in their team and they bat for six overs. Every player on the field, except for the wicket-keeper, bowls an over.
Some teams in the past have scored more than 90 runs in their six overs.
Gudgeon said there would be a barbecue and the canteen will sell snacks and soft drinks.
The tournament on Sunday begins at 8.30am with the finals to be conducted later in the afternoon.
“It is open to everyone to come down and have a watch. You’ll be entertained,” Gudgeon said.
