The Millicent Naracoorte Cricket Association 2024/25 season reaches its half-way mark on Saturday when round eight is contested.


A three-week festive season siesta follows and round nine is scheduled for January 11.


A further five home and away rounds will follow and then two weekends of finals.


With Christmas less than a week away, it is hoped that all six sides on Saturday can each find 11 players and forfeits can be avoided.


The Millicent Black Hats are ladder leaders and reigning premiers but face the unhappy prospect of just one full game in the space of two months.


The team last had a full game on November 16 when it lowered the colours of Mount Burr on its home deck at Norm Facey Oval at McLaughlin Park in Millicent.


Since then, it has had a rain-shortened match on November 23, a complete wash-out on November 30, an Adelaide Oval test match bye on December 7 and a scheduled bye last Saturday.


Therefore, it came as no surprise when teenage Black Hats Ryder Lindner and Cruz Gibson offered to fill in for the Naracoorte Townies at Rendelsham in round seven.


Another teenage Black Hat to get some time in the middle of late has been Cambell Hateley.


He will again play this week in the Adelaide Premier League under 18 competition.


Drafted to Peninsula Pirates his team has made a great start winning their first game.


Hateley made an impressive 44 off just 17 balls including three sixes.


His career statistics over various clubs and competitions are 710 runs, 46 wickets and 26 catches from 77 games with a top score of 109.


Even without Hateley, the Millicent Black Hats should win at home over the fourth-placed Naracoorte Warriors.


Bottom-ranked Mount Burr have a good chance of victory at home over Kingston who are just one rung above them on the premiership table.


The seaside team had 22 different players over a four-week period.


A tight tussle is assured when third-placed Lucindale travel to take on fifth-placed Naracoorte Townies.