Tully chase third title, Bowral back

Last season: 5th

Prediction: 6th

Captain: Michael Pike

Squad: Cameron Pike, Grant Pike, Andrew Benson, Arron Deegan, David Short, James Baldwin, Bob Lewis, Paul Briggs, Michael Rudge, Brendan Irwin, Ben Staples.

What to expect: After missing out on the semi-finals last summer, the Tigers are looking to make it to the grand final this year.

Despite losing Ricky Martin and Damien McMillan to injury, the Tigers made a good steal from Goulburn, in one of last season’s top run scorers Ben Staples.

The Tigers showed promising signs last year, but crucial missed catches and losing games by less than 10 runs left the Tigers just outside the top four.

Captain Michael Pike thinks this year they have a good blend of young and experienced players who can take them all the way.

Wingello will be looking for strong batting from James Baldwin and Arron Deegan to give themselves a solid platform.

Bowral

Last season: 6th

Prediction: 4th/5th.

Captain: Duncan Macpherson

Squad: Brett McAulay, Alex Andelkovic, Liam Hammond, James Keyes, Matt Burke, Matt Norrie, Will Norrie, Cameron Belshaw, Dean Roxburgh, Stewart Macpherson, Stacey Lewer, Glen Hoad and Doug Dawson.

What to expect: Bowral are back in business with the return of triple title winning duo Dean Roxburgh and Cameron Belshaw.

Roxburgh, who said he would be a Spud for life after playing at Robertson for the last two summers, will be a welcomed addition to the team’s spinning ranks. Belshaw will open the bowling and will came in handy in the middle order with the bat.

Macpherson said having two of the guys back in the fold, from the famous Bowral side that won three consecutive titles from 2004-05 to 2007-08 before folding the following season, would provide the experience it needed.

The return of Matt Norrie from England in November will be another boost and combined with the skills of younger brother and Southern Zone rep, Will, Bowral could make the finals.

The team now faced a “good dilemma” with a squad of 14-15 players available for first grade.

“There is a real good feeling around the club,” Macpherson said.

“It would be good to make the finals but we just want to enjoy it.”

The skipper’s brother Stewart and Liam Hammond will open the batting.

Moss Vale

Last Season: 2nd, Runners-up

Prediction: 3rd

Captain: Dave Edmends

Squad: Scott McKie, Troy Brown, Paul Brandon, Murray Burgoyne, Jack Webb, Jordan Grey, Owen Chivers, Peter Canestrari, Daniel Smith, Blake Parker, Ross Webb and Reece Woods.

What to expect: Falling just short in last season’s grand final, Moss Vale still achieved a better result than they had expected.

Scott McKie said that while they are traditionally slow starters, they expect to sit around the middle of the pack this season. Skipper Dave Edmends said after making the decider last year, they are looking to go one better this season. With a similar squad to last year, Edmends hopes they will be able to gel together to make the championship dream come true.

They will be looking to improve on their run scoring, with Edmends leading from the front.

Moss Vale are also hoping for a strong performance from paceman Troy Brown to get them off to a good start this year.

Robertson-Burrawang

Last Season: 3rd

Prediction: 2nd

Captain: Nathan Wright

Squad: Nathan Wright, Aaron de Jager, Scott Shepherd, Ben Wright, Darby Rule, Kerion Bishop, James Hart, Nathan Ring, Steve Fairbairn, Jim Thompson, Adam Kich and Nathan Ring.

What to expect: Last year’s minor premiers look set to pose a strong threat. Despite being knocked out in the preliminary final last year, the Spuds have a very good team on paper. Suffering the loss of some of the team’s more experienced players, Jim Thompson, Adam Kich and Nathan Ring have been brought up from second grade.

Club president Aaron de Jager admits they don’t have as strong a team as last summer, but said they have some good young enthusiastic cricketers who will gain valuable experience from first grade.

They will be looking for strong fielding and a much better batting attack. De Jager said the lack of runs let them down in the finals series, but with second grade player of the year Jim Thompson and 2009 player of the competition Nathan Wright at the helm, Robertson will be looking to turn that around.

James Hart will be looking to take wickets, along with Scott Shepherd who will most likely open the bowling for the Spuds.

Hill Top

Last Season: 7th

Prediction: 7th

Captain: Simon Reid

Squad: Steve McNaught, Alex Martyn, Jimmy Debbs, Harry Reicher, Jack Saunders, Matt Conquest, Andrew Rae, Harley Peachey, Matt Doust and Scott Tye.

What to expect: With a disappointing performance last year, Hill Top is setting their sights on the top four this summer.

Skipper Simon Reid said a young team with a lack of experience set them back last year, but with a season of first grade under their belt, they will do better this season.

A new wicketkeeper, Scott Tye from Tahmoor, will hopefully add depth to their squad. Reid said that they are looking to concentrate on batting and fielding this season and continue to work on their inexperience. Having learnt a lot from last year, Reid is looking for a team effort.

“It can’t be a single effort,” Reid said.

If the youngsters can use their lessons from last year, Hill Top stand a good chance of improving on last years’ finish.

Tully Park

Last season: 3rd, Premiers.

Prediction: 1st

Captain: Mik Webber

Squad: Brad Smith, Pete Bullock, Tom Skelly, Jock Cartwright, Mick Earl, Ben Rabjohns, Justin Rowlings, Tim King, Brad Mitchell, Oliver Sharwood and Ben Haynes.

What to expect: It’s hard to bet against back-to-back champions, especially when the nucleus of the squad has remained unchanged.

Mik Webber, Brad Smith and Ben Rabjohns will again lead the team, but support from Jock Cartwright and Mick Earl will be just as crucial.

Tully will be the most formidable of the seven teams with the ball this season, with Webber and Smith to again terrorise the competition with their opening combination.

Both grabbed several five wicket hauls last year, with Smith claiming 10 in a match twice.

With the bat, Earl, Rabjohns, Webber and Cartwright will give the attack something to defend.

It was Rabjohns who was the form batsman after Christmas last season, while Webber finished the season with an unbeaten century in the grand final at Bradman.

Webber will be looking for a more consistent showing this season, with a top two spot or minor premiership, well within Tully’s grasp.

“Another premiership is definitely a possibility without getting too far ahead of ourselves,” Webber said.

“I think we really need to play more consistently and try and really put teams away when we have them on the ropes.

A first up assignment against the dark horse Wingello should provide an indication as to whether a third straight premiership is on the cards.

Coolavin

Last season: 4th

Prediction: 4th/5th

Captain: Dane Stevenson

Squad: Andrew Staples, Dennis Carroll, Dane Stevenson, Josh Watling, Gerald Wilcox, Mitch Cook, Josh Pender, Adam Wilson, Brett Hill.

What to expect: With their bowling stocks well down on last season after the departure of Sam Taylor and Nick Prell, Dane Stevenson concedes it will be difficult to blast teams away.

Even more of a concern is the fact they have just a squad of 10 first graders, but are hopeful of lower grade fill in players.

Their batting should trouble teams, as they posted large scores frequently last season.

While the Coolavin line up doesn’t shine like it did last season, there is still talent to give teams plenty of headaches.

Which is exactly what Stevenson will want.

“We’re not going to blast teams away, we are just going to have to put hard work in and grind out wins,” he said.

“I think we’d be very happy with third or fourth this year.

“Tully are the benchmark, and I’ve heard Bowral will be strong.”

Whether they are able to recover from the loss of their new ball pairing and the destructive Jason Apps remains to be seen. The season might be a rebuilding phase.

They will have to wait a weekend to show their fight this year as they have the first round bye.