By MATT NICHOLLS
FIRST grade cricketers will enjoy more than a month’s rest after the Armidale District Cricket Association delayed the opening of the Armidale Premier League franchise competition.
No first grade cricket will be played in January, while second and third grade sides take to the field this Saturday before taking another break over the Australia Day weekend.
The Armidale Premier League was originally meant to be played in January on Saturday evenings, but had to be postponed after the ADCA was unable to secure a fourth franchise sponsor in time.
Now, the APL will kick off on 31 January, meaning the competition will be played on Fridays and in conjunction with first grade cricket on Saturdays.
Players will now have to play two matches per weekend.
Some first grade players could play as many as three matches if there are representative games scheduled on Sundays.
Despite there being no first grade cricket this Saturday, the action should still be fierce in the lower grades.
Ladder leaders Hillgrove do battle with second-placed Ex-Services at Lambert Park, while third-placed Barbarians go head to head with Guyra at Moran Oval.
In third grade, the match of the round should be at Guyra as the third-placed side hosts Hillgrove Colts.
The winner will hold second spot at the end of the round, but could snare top billing if the Barbarians can upset TAS White.
