A new era for Howe Park
BY ALEX TIGANI
All roads lead to Howe Park this evening when Singleton District Cricket Association rivals Creeks and PCH playoff under lights from 7pm.
A large crowd is expected to gather to watch the region’s two powerhouse line-ups open the inaugural Coalfields Cup T20 first grade competition.
Opposing captains Blake Cook (Creeks) and Jackson Cox (PCH) both admit they are not sure how their respective sides will fair in Singleton’s first ever night clash.
“Is it better to bat first or is it better to bowl first, we put it in our group chat and we’re not too sure,” Cook, 33, revealed.
“I don’t know either, it is going to be different for everything,” Cox, 28, added.
“Hopefully it will be a good night, the lights look unreal at 100 and 200 so they will look impressive in 300.”
This evening’s match will also mark the first T20 fixture for Singleton’s first grade sides since the formation of the Coalfields Cup with the Cessnock District Cricket Association.
They are joined by Cessnock sides Piranhas and Greta Branxton in Pool B while Singleton rivals Glendon and JPC/Valley will commence the Pool A fixture on Saturday alongside Bellbird and Wine Country.
Howe Park is also set to play host to the T20 grand final at 7pm on Saturday, February 4 with semi-finals scheduled earlier in the day at 1pm and 4pm.
“Creeks is not really a T20 side so when we started playing the T20 competition there was a different skill set that we had to bring and we had to learn as we went,” Cook added.
“But people have come out of the woodwork to play for both sides so it will be an exciting night.”
MEANWHILE a large crowd is also expected on Friday evening after an estimated 250 cricket fans called Singleton home for the inaugural Cricket NSW Country Youth Championships.
A total of nine under-15 girls teams showcased a high standard of junior cricket this week with many highlights taking place across the week including a hat-trick from Valentine junior Isabella Bliss in her Newcastle line-up’s opening round victory against the Hunter Valley Region.