LLOYD ILETT – HDCA – Season Preview
COLERAINE will be desperate to make amends for the grand final loss in the Hamilton and District Cricket Association D Grade competition when play begins in October for the 2025/26 season.
The Maroons were unlucky not to claim the premiership last summer when they had the grand final in its keeping requiring only one more wicket while Tahara still needed 13 runs to claim the flag undefeated.
It was not to be for Coleraine as the Blue Caps peeled off the required runs to be crowned premiers and champions and earn promotion into C Grade, while Coleraine has had the Winter to dwell on what should have been.
Coleraine has appointed Thomas Janetzki as captain for the coming campaign and his leadership will be vital to the hopes of the team as he leads from the front with both bat and ball.
With 20 wickets at a miserly average of only 12.05 per wicket and 276 runs at 25.09 per innings, Janetzki is one of the best performed players in the side and if he fires then the Maroons will be near the pointy end of the ladder come March 2026 and the finals.
The side has recruited David Simpson from Hamilton North CC where he was the D Grade captain for many years and his knowledge of the opposition will be invaluable as well as his skills with the keeper’s gloves and bat in hand.
There are three or four other players that are in the works of joining but the club president, Christian Barker wanted to keep the names under wraps for now.
The club needs to find new players as it has lost some big performers over the winter with the Dwyer family moving from the district and this sees Xavier, Jack and Karl Dwyer all missing from the line up, while Thomas Rowland is expected to be moving on too.
Added to these is Colin Joyce and Allan Cilla who have retired and whose spots need to be filled.
It’s not all doom and gloom for the Maroons though as Josh Brody returns from injury after he missed most of the 2024/25 season and his presence at the top of the order is going to aid Janetzki immensely.
Barker posted 197 runs last summer and he will be looking to make that 300 plus this season, while Braeden Marrett, Chris Young and Archie Temleton will be seeking 300-run tallies too.
“I’m looking forward to another great summer from our team with ‘TJ’ (Janetzki) leading the way for us,” Barker said.
“While we have lost several players, we have grabbed David Simpson as our big recruit and have Josh (Brody) back too who will give our batting depth.
“Hamilton will always be tough to defeat and our games with each other have always been tough matches with neither side prepared to give an inch.
“With Tahara out of the competition, Hamilton has to be our main rival for the competition and hopefully we can reproduce the form that saw us finish top two the last two seasons.
“If our skipper is not winning the Most Valuable Player award this season, then I expect Rory Steff (Hamilton) to be near the top of the votes.”
Coleraine has the bye in round one and starts the Summer with a home game against Hamilton on 25 October at Turnbull Street Oval in round two.
