BDCA 2022: Collie, Burekup and Dalyellup ready for exciting new challenge

There will be a degree of freshness across the Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association this season, with several clubs stepping up to the top tier of competition.

Headlining this will be the Collie Cricket Club, who have been promoted to first grade on the back of a masterful second grade premiership-winning season last year.

Undefeated across the final four weeks of the season, Collie played a blistering brand of cricket home and away, with seasoned representative Blair Malatesta — who finished averaging 48.1 runs with the bat — setting the tone for his teammates to follow.

There is every chance Roche Park (a place where Collie have not lost since December 5, 2020) can again become a fortress for travelling teams — and if so, could ensure the Coalminers play finals in their inaugural first grade campaign.

Equally significant are the new arrivals in the women’s competition.

Two new clubs — Burekup and Dalyellup — will play senior women’s matches this season, with the BDCA and its clubs keen for more women to play cricket.

The Bees have the honour of opening the women’s season on Friday night, although their assignment will be a baptism of fire, given the fact they are facing reigning premiers Marist.

All remaining Round 1 matches will be held on Sunday morning, at the same venues as their male counterparts from the previous day.