Sport
10 October, 2025
Pitches all set for rivalries
THE Cairns first-grade cricket competition kicks off this weekend, promising one of the most even and exciting seasons in recent memory.
Cairns Cricket chief executive officer Daniel Freebody said the 21-round competition would run through to the finals in March, with matches spread across local venues, including Griffiths Park and the Walker Road Precinct in Edmonton.
“This is probably the most even competition I can recall in our region,” Mr Freebody said.
“A couple of the teams that struggled a bit last year have recruited well and are now strong sides,” he said.
“Every game should be a nail-biter and feature some really good-quality cricket.”
The opening round’s match will see Rovers take on Barron River, while Norths will host Mareeba at Griffiths Park.
Norths, last year’s premiers, will again be a team to watch, although they’ll be adjusting to the loss of their leading run-scorer, who has moved south to Brisbane to further his career.
Mr Freebody said Mulgrave and Rovers were also expected to be strong contenders this season.
“If Rovers play to their full potential, they’ll be extremely hard to beat,” he said.
The first round will feature a double-header at Griffiths Park on Sunday afternoon, offering fans the chance to catch multiple matches in one spot. Entry is free, with canteens open for food and drinks.
Mr Freebody encouraged local supporters to get behind their community teams.
“Get down to watch your local side play, we’d love to see big crowds for the first round,” he said.
“There’ll be a great atmosphere and some top-quality cricket.”
He added that Cairns Cricket is also eyeing larger opportunities for the region, with hopes that Cairns may host a test match in mid-2026, pending allocation decisions from Cricket Australia.
