Cobram presents its case and women's cricket raised at Cricket Shepparton forum

By Aydin Payne

May 11, 2021

Cricket Shepparton club representatives, umpires and players converged on Mooroopna's Parson Pavilion on Monday night for a discussion about the future of the association.

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The forum was a chance for club delegates to offer ideas and speak on a wide range of topics.

Everything was laid out on the table and put up for consideration.

Cricket Shepparton revealed its desire to establish a senior women's and under-15 girls’ competition next season, live scoring would become compulsory in A and B-grades and match formats and season layouts were also deliberated.

Umpire shortages were again a topic and the association has plans to have clubs provide an umpire at neutral games — with payment to be handed to volunteers.

One of the key highlights of the evening was Cobram Cricket Club presenting its case to join Cricket Shepparton for the upcoming 2021-22 season.

Club representative Mark Haberfield delivered a passionate presentation on how and why it wanted to join Cricket Shepparton ranks.

Cobram requested to join the A-grade (Haisman Shield) competition, with intentions to field an under-16 side as well.

“We want to see our players grow and become the best cricketers they can be and that's one of our main reasons to join Cricket Shepparton,” Haberfield said.

“We want to keep our current crop of juniors and we see Cricket Shepparton as a viable long-term competition. It would give us the best chance of growing and we feel it would be an opportunity missed.

“We believe we have something to offer, we have the facilities, a new scoreboard and sponsors. We can complement Cricket Shepparton and help fill that bye spot.”

However, Haberfield said the club would not shift entirely.

The Tigers would field two senior and junior sides in Murray Valley Cricket Association, similar to how most clubs in metropolitan Melbourne operate.

There were some concerns from Cricket Shepparton club representatives, with travel times and a potential "star-studded" outfit on the minds of few.

Haberfield said the decision to move the club's "first XI" had caused a ripple through the club.

“It has been a difficult period. It's fractured the club a bit,” he said.

“But the committee have done such a good job in trying to work through and meet everyone's needs. They see the benefit of shifting across.

“That's why we don't want to go as a club, but as an A-grade outfit. We want to keep that club identity and history in the MVCA, but also not get swallowed up by amalgamation.

“We feel we can field four senior sides. With MVCA set to become A and B-grade, we have the players there to play. Our A-grade and C-grade sides won the premiership, while our B-grade reached the final.”

Clubs will vote on accepting Cobram into Cricket Shepparton at the AGM on May 31.

Cricket Shepparton president David D'Elia said he was happy with how the forum was handled.

“I felt it went pretty good, there was some really good feedback,” D'Elia said.

“There was no bad idea, people put their hand up and put some ideas out on the table.

“That's the whole idea of it.

“If we sit stagnant and do what we have been doing for a long time, then we are going to end up in a scenario where we question our viability.

“Hopefully in three weeks we can instigate it and get it going.”

D'Elia was unsure of what way clubs would vote in allowing Cobram into the league.

However, he was more bullish on getting junior and senior women's cricket action up and running.

“The Cobram decision, I still think is a 50-50 one,” D'Elia said.

“But we are really pushing to get a women's competition up and running.

“We need to have a women's competition and hopefully we can get that organised.”