Southport Labrador sign two English cricketers in quest for Kookaburra Cup premiership

SOUTHPORT Labrador are going all out in their quest to break a nine-year Kookaburra Cup title drought, with a new recruit boasting “the same pedigree” as England Test quick Mark Wood.

SOUTHPORT Labrador are going all out in their quest to break a nine-year Kookaburra Cup premiership drought after signing two English stars for the upcoming season.

The Tigers, who have not tasted first grade success since beating Palm Beach Currumbin in the 2008-09 final, will feature spin-bowling all-rounders Oli McGee and Matthew Morris when the campaign begins in October.

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Mark Wood in action for England against Australia at the SCG in January. Picture: AAP Image/Brendan Esposito

McGee, 21, will join the club from North East Premier League side Newcastle, while 18-year-old Morris plays for Westhoughton in Bolton Cricket League.

They are members of the Durham and Lancashire academies respectively.

With fellow Englishman Simon Belston also joining the club from premiers Burleigh as player-coach, expectations are high the club can improve on last season’s sixth-placed finish.

“We’re really excited to get stuck in and see where we are,” Belston said.

“These boys come very highly recommended from back home. It’s always good for these young fellas to come over here to the Gold Coast to buy into the local comp.

“We’ve been handy enough to get these boys’ signatures for the next six months. It’s a good balance of being able to bring over a good cricketer but also a good bloke.

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Southport Labrador batsman Nic Peterson. Picture: Mike Batterham

“Oli in many regards has got the same pedigree as (Test quick) Mark Wood. Mark Wood came over to play for Palm Beach (in 2011) and Woody hails from Durham.

“Southport just missed out on finals last year and we should be looking to play finals. We’re looking to establish the club where they belong and that’s in the top four competing for premierships and playing finals.”

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Belston said batsman Nic Peterson would also be crucial for the Tigers after sharing the first grade player of the season award in 2017-18.