A decision was reached by Cricket Shepparton following its July 10 meeting, citing a number of factors including travel and structure as to why the Seymour District Cricket Association (SDCA) club would not be accepted into its ranks for the immediate future.
Feedback from current member clubs was reviewed at the meeting and a ruling was made, but a statement released by Eastern Hill has since detailed the club’s discontent at the conclusion.
“EHCC are extremely disappointed at the decision of the SCA,” it read.
“From when we started the application process, considerable progress was made in presenting our club to the SCA, that by the end we were reasonably confident of a positive outcome.
“In fact, the club was informed by the SCA that our proposal was by far the best it had ever seen with its content and detailed information.
“But unfortunately, we were still unsuccessful.”
In its reasoning behind applying to leave its current competition for future surety, the release by Eastern Hill went on to explain Kilmore and Broadford have exited the SDCA in recent times to join the Gisborne and District Cricket Association, while Nagambie had previously left to join Cricket Shepparton.
It referenced the disbandment of former club Royals prior to this, also noting the ceding of Avenel and Alexandra’s A-grade sides and the struggles of Yea fielding a side in the top tier.
“The writing was on the wall. We had to get proactive,” it read.
“The reasoning behind the decision to make a formal application to SCA was to secure the club’s future as well as to provide cricket in future years within the Seymour district at both junior and senior levels and playing in a competitive turf wicket competition.
“We have been a major stakeholder in the SDCA for over 60 years. To investigate the option of joining the SCA was not taken lightly.
“The unanimous decision to submit the proposal to the SCA was made by members, players and parents at an open forum meeting held by the club.”
Cricket Shepparton president Narelle Claney said the call on the Eastern Hill application was part of a broader plan to rejuvenate cricket in the wider area.
The club made it known its own feedback from the association was centred around this proposal, rather than other factors such as travel and structure.
“We were informed the vote by the SCA was extremely close, but the reason given for the rejection was not based on distance, nor travel or working around junior fixture, but rather the need of the SCA to consult with Cricket Victoria to investigate the viability and future of surrounding associations,” the statement read.
“We believe the SCA has missed a terrific opportunity to expand their competition to the southern perimeter and cement its own future.
“As a club, we will dust off and plan to reapply next year.”
However, the club has since brought to light a controversy surrounding written communication between SDCA and Cricket Shepparton which Eastern Hill believes may have swayed the latter’s decision.
“Our club has only recently been made aware of the contents of a letter written by the SDCA that was presented to SCA AGM,” the club stated.
“While we respect the SDCA’s right to discuss its future, we do not respect its involvement in attempting to discredit EHCC’s proposal through lies and misinformation.
“The EHCC are taking steps to address the matter raised in this letter with both the SDCA and SCA. We will be seeking a full apology from the SDCA.”
