Harrismith back in top grade for new Upper Great Southern Cricket Association season as Dumbleyung drop out

There are two team changes in the 2021-22 Upper Great Southern Cricket Association but the A-grade competition will remain at seven teams for the new season that officially starts on Saturday. Harrismith have re-joined the A-grade competition after dropping back to B-grade last season and they have swapped places with Dumbleyung, who will play in the B-grade competition this season. Dumbleyung only won one game last season to finish on the bottom of the ladder while Harrismith won the B-grade premiership. The A-grade competition will consist of defending premiers Pingelly-Noonebin along with Towns, Wandering, Lake Grace, Williams, Cuballing and Harrismith. A total of 14 home-and-away rounds will be played before a three-week finals series. Harrismith and Lake Grace played their round-six fixture last Saturday. The two clubs worked with each other to play the fixture ahead of time and will have a bye for harvest on November 27. UGSCA president David Parsons said it was pleasing to have seven A-grade teams. “Harrismith have come back into A-grade and Dumbleyung have dropped back to B-grade,” he said. “Absolutely fantastic that we have the same team numbers as last season, it’s just a bit of a swap around with those two teams. “There will be no changes to any of the rules this season.” Pingelly-Noonebin will be aiming for three straight A-grade premierships but Parsons predicted a very close competition. “I think the A-grade will be a very even competition, as even as I have ever seen it,” Parsons said. “Pingelly-Noonebin obviously have the best list and are going for three straight but I think Lake Grace will be the big improvers. “Lake Grace just missed out on finals narrowly last season but I think they’re the team to watch and will be in the finals.” The top four will play finals with a first and second semifinal, followed by a preliminary final and grand final across three weekends. Kalan Joyce powered Lake Grace to the first win of the season as they held on against Harrismith by six runs at Harrismith. Joyce made an unbeaten 108 from 139 balls, including 14 fours and one six, and shared in a 118-run partnership with Karl Fleay (39 not out) to help Lake Grace post 6-220 batting first. Derek Taylor snared 3-27 and Dan Bayley claimed 3-40 for Harrismith. Harrismith made a good fist of the run chase, thanks to 72 from opener Matthew Orchard and strong support from Bayley (37), Wade Angwin (27) and John Nutter (21 not out) but they fell just short, finishing 8-214 from their 45 overs. Dylan Brooks (3-43) and Kael Gray (3-45) were the pick of the bowlers for the winners. UPPER GREAT SOUTHERN CRICKET ASSOCIATION 2021-22 FIXTURES Round 1 October 23 Pingelly-Noonebin v Wandering Lake Grace v Williams Harrismith v Cuballing Round 2 October 30 Williams v Harrismith Wandering v Lake Grace Town v Pingelly-Noonebin Round 3 November 6 Lake Grace v Towns Harrismith v Wandering Cuballing v Williams Round 4 November 13 Wandering v Cuballing Towns v Harrismith Pingelly-Noonebin v Lake Grace Round 5 November 20 Harrismith v Pingelly-Noonebin Cuballing v Towns Williams v Wandering Round 6 November 27 Harrismith def by Lake Grace Towns v Williams Pingelly-Noonebin v Cuballing Round 7 December 4 Cuballing v Lake Grace Williams v Pingelly-Noonebin Wandering v Towns Round 8 December 11 Cuballing v Wandering Harrismith v Towns Lake Grace-Pingelly-Noonebin Round 9 December 18 Lake Grace v Cuballing Pingelly-Noonebin v Williams Towns v Wandering Round 10 January 29 Towns v Lake Grace Wandering v Harrismith Williams v Cuballing Round 11 February 5 Harrismith v Williams Lake Grace v Wandering Pingelly-Noonebin v Towns Round 12 February 12 Pingelly-Noonebin v Harrismith Towns v Cuballing Wandering v Williams Round 13 February 19 Williams v Towns Cuballing v Pingelly-Noonebin Lake Grace v Harrismith Round 14 February 26 Wandering v Pingelly-Noonebin Williams v Lake Grace Cuballing v Harrismith Semifinals March 5 1st v 2nd 3rd v 4th Preliminary final March 12 Grand final March 19