By LIAM TWOMEY
THE Williamstown District Cricket Association is confident the standard of the competition will not be affected by the loss of two clubs in the off-season.
Earlier this year Point Cook announced it was moving to the Victorian Turf Cricket Association to pursue its desire to become a district level club while Footscray ANA also decided its future was best suited in the VTCA.
Point Cook played in the WDCA’s highest grade (A1Turf) while Footscray was likely to be promoted after winning the second division premiership in 2011/12.
Association chairman Mark Keating said it was disappointing to lose the clubs.
“We are always disappointed to lose clubs but at the end of the day clubs have to make their own decisions on their futures and where they want to play,” he said.
“There is no point keeping a club if they don’t want to play in the competition. It was obviously a point of discussion at our AGM and the pre AGM meetings that we had. What I’ve picked up from the clubs is that I think the remaining turf clubs are staying at least at this stage.
“Point Cook has got ambitions to play a higher grade of cricket… and we had no objection to them leaving.
“We expected that to happen one day but perhaps not this year. That didn’t come as a surprise. Footscray ANA, we aren’t really sure what they are doing because they haven’t really spoken to us in much detail.”
Despite the loss of Point Cook and Footscray, Keating was confident the WDCA would still be able to expand in the coming seasons and highlighted growth areas such as Wyndham and Melton as possible areas for the league to branch into.
Last year the competition introduced new teams Tarneit and the Western All Stars and both sides are expected to enter at least one or two more sides this season.
Keating said the aim of the WDCA was to provide a strong local competition.
“We are never going to be as strong as the VTCA.
“But I think we can be a strong, healthy local competition and offer clubs the opportunity to play local cricket in the sort of competition where you aren’t paying huge amounts of money for players.
“You can still be competitive and want to win but the main thing is people are getting some sports and recreation in and we are providing that in a local club environment and you can’t underestimate the contribution that makes to the community and society.”
