Lavington and North Albury to square off as cricket and football clash
THE battlelines have been drawn at Union Road.
SQUARING OFF: Adam Flagg, Sam O'Connor, David Miles and Callum Langlands caught up at Union Road this week. Picture: JAMES WILTSHIRE
In an unusual set of circumstances, Lavington and North Albury will square off in the Ovens and Murray's season opener and Cricket Albury-Wodonga's provincial grand final on Saturday.
There is also a possibility Lavington and North Albury will cross paths in the Albury and District Bowls Association division three and four grand finals on Sunday.
Hopper Callum Langlands has been caught in the code crossfire.
After juggling his cricket and football commitments throughout the summer, the all-rounder has opted to play at Les Cheesley Oval rather than donning the boots at Lavington Sportsground.
"It's funny how it has worked out with North and Lavington playing each other on the same day in both," Langlands said.
"It's disappointing they have clashed but the cricket is a grand final and that was my priority this weekend.
"Hopefully North Albury can get a couple of wins."
The only day Langlands has had off from cricket and football for most of the summer has been Sundays and that changed last weekend with cricket scheduled for the Sunday.
The clash came about largely because of CAW's decision to play a best of three grand final series for the first time and the Ovens and Murray's move to award Lavington an extra early home game due to ground upgrades.
While the Ovens and Murray and Tallangatta and District leagues start on Saturday, the situation would have been worse for Lavington's cricketers if the Hume league had kicked off on April 6 rather than April 13.
Opening Panther batsman Matt Sharp coaches Holbrook with Sam Harris his assistant while David Tassell and Daryl Tuffey also played for the Brookers last season.
Jarryd Weeding is coaching Rand-Walbundrie-Walla's reserves with all-rounder Nathan Brown playing in his side.
Darcy I'Anson and Sam O'Connor play for Brock-Burrum and Michael Galvin is a defender for Jindera.
Like Langlands, Brad Dalbosco has chosen cricket ahead of playing football for Barnawartha.
O'Connor, who coaches the Panthers' cricket side, said the Panthers had set themselves to bounce back from last weekend's day two loss.
"We have had a good spread of contributors all season but unfortunately it didn't fall our way on Sunday," O'Connor said.
Lavington forward Adam Flagg said he was looking forward to the start of the season after a rigorous pre-season.
"It's been a long pre-season," Flagg said.