PIGEON PONDS hosts Portland Colts at Pigeon Ponds Recreation Reserve to get its Hamilton and District Cricket Association (HDCA) A grade season underway and with Simon Close not playing this summer due to injury, the entire Ponds team is going to have to pick up the slack his absence leaves.

That is a task easier said than done, but the talent is there for the side to perform to standards they have set in the past few seasons.

Anthony and Michael Close have both added valuable runs in the top order, while skipper, Peter Staude, will lead from the front as an opening batsman.

Wicketkeeper, Will Staude, has always been tough to dismiss, and his late order runs have rescued the side more than once.

Jack Beaton will take the new ball, while Hamish McCrae and Anthony will provide great support for the fast bowler.

Portland Colts is an unknown for the hosts, as are all the former Portland and District Cricket Association teams, but skipper, Luke Evans, will be looking towards James Chapple to lead the way in the field as wicketkeeper and make useful runs.

Glenn Hollis top-scored last summer with 356 runs, while Mat Beldon grabbed 25 wickets to be the leading bowler, and these players will suit up again in what will be the Colts’ longest road trip of the season.

Gorae-Portland v St Andrew’s

GORAE-PORTLAND will host St Andrew’s in its first fixture of the 2023-24 campaign at Alexandra Park since the completion of their new facility.

Go-Ports, headed by captain Nick Wills, will be excited to see how their team has developed over the off-season, and will be especially keen to see what new import, Finn Saurine, can produce with the willow.

Meanwhile, St Andrews will be keen to test their slightly altered line-up from the 2022-23 season, with the likes of skipper Russell Elton, Kane Taylor and Josh Nield will be ones to watch with bat and ball respectively.

South Portland v Grampians

SOUTH Portland will host last year’s HDCA runner-up, Grampians, at Cavalier Park, in what will be a huge round one test for new captain, Lachie Warburton.

The Edwards brothers, Karsen and Kayden, will be eager to showcase their skills as they look to help lift South Portland toward some success after a tumultuous 2022-23 campaign.

Grampians will be looking to kick-start their campaign with a win, although they’ll be without star import from last season, Harrison Wood, who claimed an astonishing 41 wickets last season, however skipper Will Collins remains at the helm after a strong season in which he tallied 395 runs and will be backing his team to notch up some early season wins, starting this afternoon.

Portland Tigers v Tyrendarra

IT will be a semi-final rematch which highlights round one in Portland, as Portland Tigers will host reigning premier, Tyrendarra, at Flinders Park in a one-day game.

With Hanlon Park unavailable for the start of the season, as groundskeepers work to get the pitch in good playing condition, the teams will head to Flinders Park for their opening contest.

The Tigers will be without last year’s star import, Will Hardie, and skipper Will Oakley will be keen to see who can step up to fill the void, with potential key players including vice-captains, Paul Procter and Llewellyn Oakley.

Meanwhile, the Darras have a class outfit from top to bottom and will be keen to recreate their success from last year’s semi-final, in which Darren Killmister was named best on ground for his all-round performance, while skipper Cam Mather and Jordi Withers were instrumental with the bat.