By Tara Murray
Riddell will fill the void left by Sunbury’s departure from the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s McIntyre Cup.
The association confirmed on Wednesday that the Bombers would step back up in the top division, one season after asking to drop down.
Bombers president David King said they felt they were in a place where they could be competitive in the top grade.
“It all come about with Sunbury going to the VTCA,” he said.
“It left a vacancy with only seven teams and Wallan didn’t want to stay up
“At the last meeting some other clubs weren’t pleased with seven clubs [in the top grade], so the question was raised… We said we would consider.
“We decided we would be happy to go back up.
‘We’re not expecting to set the world alight, but hopefully we’ll have a competitive side out there.”
King said the positive signs of late last season with some of their younger players, had left them confident they could take the step up.
The Bombers also look set to get some experienced players back.
Heath Wadden, has taken over the captain-coach role, with Daniel Fisk stepping down due to work commitments.
Wadden, who has previously led the side, played in the club’s second side last season.
King said Wadden was keen to help push the side back up.
While he will no longer be captain-coach, Fisk is expected to still play. A couple of former players are also set to return after a year out of the game.
GDCA president Rob McIntyre said club delegates had wanted them to explore all options to fill the void and not leave a bye in the top grade.
“After discussions with several clubs in Johnstone Shield, Riddell was the only club that believed that it could be competitive,” McIntyre said.
“The option was to either have a bye or offer the position to Riddell as the other teams in Johnstone Shield, Ashfield, East Sunbury and Rupertswood, felt that they would not be anywhere near competitive in McIntyre Cup.
“The other team in that division, Eynesbury, has requested to be relegated to Jensen Shield.
“The option of having a six-team competition for this season only was raised at the delegates meeting but the board felt it would be unfair to not promote St Anthony’s as the club had earned promotion and was recruiting players based on its elevation to McIntyre Cup.”
The move of Riddell back into the top grade, comes 12 months after the association put an embargo on the Bombers and Rupertswood moving straight back up to the top grade, after requesting to drop down.
McIntyre said the change of circumstances, with Sunbury leaving the competition, they needed to reassess the situation.
“The GDCA board determined to place an embargo on the club [Riddell] from returning immediately as the club was not relegated under promotion/relegation rules,” McIntyre said.
“However, circumstances changed with the loss of Sunbury to the VTCA and Wallan electing to return to Johnstone Shield, therefore leaving seven teams in the top division.”
Bacchus Marsh, Gisborne, Diggers Rest Bulla, Woodend, Romsey, Sunbury United and St Anthonys will be the other sides in the McIntyre Cup.
