- Read how the junior season is shaping up – here.
COLTS will field a junior side in the Horsham Cricket Association for what is thought to be the first time in ten years this season.
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The idea had been floated about at the club in recent seasons before a decision was made to field an under-12 team this season.
Ron Marks will be in charge of coaching the side in its first season.
He said when he returned to the region two years ago after being away from for twenty years he noticed the clubs that were flourishing had good junior programs.
“And then there were clubs like Colts who were having to look around in order to get their teams together,” he said.
“It’s fantastic in so many different ways for the club to have the juniors back up and running.
“I just want to see the kids come through and have a chance to become really good cricketers.”
Homers and the Horsham Saints have both thrived since developing junior programs and Marks is hopeful Colts will follow suit with more teams in the future.
“I see the door opening for the club to field teams in the older age groups over the coming seasons as well,” he said.
“We want to nurture their talents and then see them move up with the age groups and we want to be part of growing the game in the region.
“It’s also a great opportunity for the senior players to take the juniors under their wings and act as mentors.”
Marks said he jumped at the opportunity to coach the side having previously coached senior and junior sides in South Australia.
“I just love seeing kids participate in cricket,” he said. “I couldn’t sit back and not be involved and it gets me out and exercising as well.”
Marks was particularly excited that four of the 13 players in his squad were girls.
“We’d love to to have a girls team down the track as well,” he said.
“And we are always keen to invite more player down as well, the more boys and girls we have the better.”
Colts president Michael Rothery said the whole club was excited to see the juniors develop.
“I just can’t wait for it all to start,” he said.