By Lance Jenkinson
St Albans will feature on the big stage in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s top flight this summer.
The Saints have been promoted to the top tier senior division after Greenvale Kangaroos relinquished their place in the off season.
“This is an exciting opportunity and we look forward to mixing it with the best clubs in the competition,” St Albans president Michael Else said.
“We expect to be very competitive.”
There will be no honeymoon period for St Albans.
The Saints will open the season with a two-day game against the competition’s powerhouse Yarraville Club at Kings Park Reserve on Saturday.
The Clubbers are the two-time reigning premiers, have featured in 13 of the past 16 grand finals and won nine flags in that span.
Robert Nikolic, a home grown player, has been appointed captain-coach of St Albans.
Sunshine United is also ready to make the step up to the big league.
The Tigers were promoted as premiers of the second tier last season.
A tough away trip awaits the Tigers against established senior division club Strathmore at Lebanon Reserve on Saturday.
Keilor will reignite its rivalry with Doutta Stars away at Buckley Park on Sunday.
In division 1 north, Keilor Park travels to Craigieburn first up, while in the west group, Deer Park pays a visit to Altona North.
Meanwhile, Taylors Lakes will be on the road for its season-opening match in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association south-west group this Saturday.
The Lions will be facing Hoppers Crossing in a two-day encounter at Hogans Road Reserve over the next two Saturdays.
It will be new Lions coach Janaka Deegodagamage’s first game in charge as senior coach. Deegodagamage signed on over the winter and arrived at Taylors Lakes with a wealth of experience.
Holding an ICC Global Level 3 coaching accreditation, he has performed various roles in more than two decades of coaching, including high performance, coach education and coach of men’s, women’s, academy and development teams.
Taylors Lakes could unveil new import Dilshan Kanchana. A 22-year-old all-rounder, Kanchana has played first class cricket with Galle in Sri Lanka.
After making the finals in their inaugural season, the Lions took a backward step last summer, finishing down in 12th place.
The new arrivals will hopefully spark a resurgence back up the ladder this season.
