Cricketers in the Millicent/Naracoorte Association have been invited to participate in the annual First Nations Round on Saturday.

Special ceremonies could be held at Millicent’s Norm Facey Oval, Mount Burr’s Mick and Jean Walker Oval and Naracoorte’s Wortley Oval.

First Nations Round gives players and officials the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-indigenous Australians.

Players and umpires from every team in the nation have been invited to mark First Nations Round whenever they play this weekend.

One suggestion is to form a pre-match barefoot circle and organise a Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country to connect with the Traditional Owners of the land.

Various sporting codes across Australia have also embraced an annual First Nations round.

Millicent Black hats versus Rendelsham


It has taken to round six but Rendelsham finally gets its chance to avenge their dismal loss to the young Millicent Black Hats on their home deck in the 2023/24 grand final.

The bare results from that season decider say it all.

The home side won the toss and was blasted out for a mere 63 in the 27th over with seven ducks.

They then watched the victors cruise to an easy nine wicket win.

Black Hats skipper Mitchell Nitschke belted the first delivery of the 14th over beyond the boundary to seal Rendelsham’s fate.

The outcome could have been a complete debacle if not for Rendelsham vice-captain and opener Jacob Carger who carried his bat for 41.

Most of those 22 participating players will do battle again on Saturday including the then 16-year-old Ashton Linder.

He was the man of the-match in the grand final with 5/8.

Both teams have begun the 2024/25 season well and could play off for the premiership yet again.

The Rendelsham top order batting of Tyson Smith, Jacob Carger, Dylan Clough, Jake Walker and Mitch Pulmer have all been in good touch.

Smith and Clough would be especially keen to put productively put bat on ball as they scored golden ducks at their last meeting with the Millicent Black Hats.

Other Games


The two Naracoorte teams face off at Wortley Oval with cross-town rivalries on full display.

After a bye, Lucindale is on the road to play the luckless Mount Burr.

Hopefully, the hiccups with the new oval irrigation system have been ironed out this week and Mick and Jean Walker Oval can host its first senior game of 2024/25.