HOWLONG'S top side will play in Cricket Albury-Wodonga's provincial B grade competition this season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
With the Spiders being the only NSW-based club in the district competition, officials were forced to find an alternative to overcome cross-border coronavirus restrictions.
Howlong president Caleb Chant said the club was pleased to find a solution in difficult times.
"We're just really happy to be playing cricket," Chant said.
"It will be good exposure for the club to play provincial cricket.
"We wanted to be playing on turf and thankfully it's worked out with the help of CAW."
Howlong's B grade side will play in C1 while options are being looked at for C grade.
While the Spiders have found a new home, it has come at a price with co-coach Ryan Withers living in Victoria.
The Englishman has played a major role in the club's improvement over the past two years and is devastated to be stranded.
"I'm pretty gutted about it all," Withers said.
"I was really looking forward to this year after the big step we took last season.
"We just missed the finals but as a team we improved a lot.
"We'd won something like four games in the last four years and last season we won eight.
"It's pretty gutting to not be involved at the moment."
Co-coach Aaron Hoskin will run training with the assistance of "several senior players".
Withers plans to stay involved with Howlong despite being unable to attend training or matches while restrictions are in place.
"I'll stay around and try and be a part of it," he said.
"I wouldn't want to leave like that.
"Hopefully the border opens up as I'd love to get back involved again at Howlong."
Withers, who made 180 runs for Howlong last season, hasn't ruled out joining a Victorian club for the start of the season.
Chant said Howlong would miss Withers.
"He's got a great cricket brain," he said.
"With all the COVID-19 stuff, he's done a power of work over the past 12 months getting things ready.
"He's great at getting all the young kids fired up and the amount of messages he sends out to the players to keep them engaged is incredible.
"He's joked about having zoom meetings with the boys and giving them a spiel before each game."
CAW chairman Michael Erdeljac said Howlong is a progressive club and didn't want to see it go without cricket this year.
"They have come a long way and we're pleased something has worked out," he said.
