Griffith has been forced to make changes to its O’Farrell Cup-winning team for the challenge against Young on Sunday at Exies No. 1.
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Teenagers Reece Matheson and Dean Bennett will both miss the match due to representative duties with Riverina’s Bradman Cup team in Newcastle.
Captain Haydn Pascoe would have loved to keep the lineup stay the same but was happy to see the young guns chase higher honours.
“You don’t want to go changing a winning side too much, obviously, but they're (Matheson and Bennett) both away representing Riverina,” Pascoe said.
“That’s a high level of cricket, you have to take those opportunities and good luck to them next week.”
At a meeting on Wednesday night, the selectors opted to trade youth for experience.
Brendan Hicken and all-rounder Jason Hampel will come in for Matheson and Bennett.
Hicken will take on the wicket-keeping duties while Hampel will add to Griffith’s already burgeoning bowling attack.
Nine players in the team bowl regularly for their Griffith District Cricket Association sides which will give Pascoe a wealth of talent to choose from.
Griffith will also be buoyed by a home crowd.
Last time Griffith hosted an O’Farrell Cup match was in a loss to Leeton last year.
Vice-captain Pat Whittard felt the full brunt of that loss and was hopeful of increasing the home win-rate.
“It’s a good atmosphere, you always want to turn out and perform in front of your home crowd,” he said.
“Hopefully we can come away with the win and hopefully a good crowd comes down and supports us.”
There’s no doubt Young will be keen.
The side will have to make the 230-kilometre trek to the Exies Oval on Sunday but Pascoe said a similar performance to last week would give Griffith every chance.
“Everyone chipped in, it was a really good team effort and hopefully we can do it again,” he said.
The match will start at 10am.
GRIFFITH
Phil Burge, Dom Brown, Haydn Pascoe (c), Pat Whittard (vc), Jamie Winkler, Brendan Hicken (wk), Jason Hampel, Marc Tucker, Liam Greenaway, Charlie Cunial, Alex Flood.
