Local teams poised for early tests as league fixtures are announced
An exciting Eastern Cricket Union season is expected.
The first deliveries of the 2014/15 Eastern Cricket Union season will be bowled over the weekend of October 4 and 5.
The union’s elite club cricket league, the Premier League, always throws up some interesting encounters as teams battle it out for overall dominance and a potential spot at the 2015 National Club Championships, in Pretoria.
It was Kempton Park Cricket Club who emerged as winners of the Premier League for the 2013/14 campaign, after overthrowing rivals Benoni Northerns Cricket Club (BNCC), who lifted the Easterns Premier League trophy the previous season.
Northerns would, however, taste success in the Promotion League, with a narrow one-point bonus victory over Kempton Park, last season.
This season, an interesting alteration has been made to the Promotion League.
The league has been split into a Premier League Reserve League, as well as a third-tier Promotion League, in order to give the historically weaker clubs in this league more opportunity to progress and develop.
Another interesting addition the senior Sunday games is the new age-restricted Colts League (14 to 17 years old), which was formed to bridge the gap between junior and senior cricket.
BNCC and Daveyton Cricket Club will each feature a team in this league.
On the Premier League front, Benoni’s clubs will be looking to stake a claim for the trophy from as early on as possible.
BNCC will play their first game away from home at CBC Old Boys, a side who are expected to be one of the strong contenders for the league, while Actonville Spurs Cricket Club will be hoping to make light work of Duduza when they host them at Lords Cricket Grounds, in Actonville, on October 5.
The first Benoni cricket derby between BNCC and Actonville is scheduled to be played on Sunday, October 26.
Other teams in the league are KT Windies (KwaThema), Tembisa, Springs Old Boys, United Cricket Club (Brakpan) and Duduza.
For all the fixtures, for all the Easterns’ Saturday and Sunday leagues, visit www.benonicitytimes.co.za.
