Opposing codes come together for community

Social day of sport open to all as the countdown to winter sport draws nearer

GAME ON: The Biloela Valleys and Panthers are combining to put on a fun-filled day of social cricket.

IN A UNIFIED effort, two sporting clubs are putting together a social day of sport to promote health, community engagement and participation.

The Biloela Valleys FC and the Biloela Panthers Rugby League Club are co-ordinating an eight-a-side Community Cricket Day.

Biloela Valleys FC treasurer Dee-Anne Radke said it had been eight years since this social competition had been run.

“We want to get everyone active and getting social at the start of a new season of winter sports,” Mrs Radke said.

“Why it’s taken so long to return is I think commitment, everyone volunteers their time and it’s tiresome if it’s the same people volunteering.

“At the moment cricket is on TV so it’s good to tie that into it as well.”

Mrs Radke said the Valleys FC maintained a productive and close relationship with not only the Biloela Panthers but also the Callide Valley Touch Association and Callide Valley Tennis Association, who all shared the same sporting complex.

“When we were doing our six-a-side soccer I thought this cricket day, it’s something different for the two clubs to come together on and do something for the community,” Mrs Radke said.

“Trying to work together from this year with the drought we will need to combine efforts and cut down on water where we can.”

Biloela Panthers secretary Chloe Stevens said the club was excited to kickstart the 2020 season with an opportunity to build on team chemistry.

“All the boys are keen to enjoy the start of the year in a relaxed manner and enjoy some team bonding,” Ms Stevens said.

“We’re hoping both clubs will put in four sides and some for the shops and the mine will put a few teams in to round it out.

“We like to stay in the good books and help all the other clubs in town where we can because we’re one of the fortunate ones where we can have our home games in Biloela with big crowds.”

On the day there will be four cricket games running simultaneously in a round robin tournament until the top two teams face off in the final with prize money up for grabs.

The games will be seven overs with prizes for the best dressed team as well as raffles.

“Depending on the number of teams and the age groups we get, we will look at separating or changing how we run the round robin with maybe handicaps and what not to make a fair and fun competition,” Mrs Radke said.

“It will all depend on the interest we get from both junior and senior players.

“This is just one idea that we can promote each club with both our supporters.”

Interested players can contact Mrs Radke or Chloe Stevens through the Biloela Panthers.

More information will be put up on the Biloela Valleys and Biloela Panthers Facebook pages as the day gets closer.

Starts 2pm, February 8 at the Rainbow Street sports fields, nomination is $80 per team.

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