O'Farrell Cup set for late-season return

The Riverina's most prestigious cricket prize will be up for grabs again this season but with few changes.

First Wagga will tackle CAW Hume at Robertson Oval on February 14.

The winner will then face holders CAW Provincial for the right to hold the cup over winter on February 28.

It was feared COVID could prevent any O'Farrell Cup action this season.

However Cricket NSW area manager Luke Olsen was pleased there was still an appetite for more representative cricket.

"It is a knockout so it is the same format we played last year," Olsen said.

"At least we've got it and I think all the old fellas around will be grateful that at least the trophy is being played for.

"It is like a challenge scenario to a degree, as the last game will be a challenge for the trophy.

"We'll just go through a knockout situation with the first game before the winner challenges Cricket Albury-Wodonga. Then the winner will hold the cup over the winter so it is a bit of a mixture of both formats."

The associations were the only two who put their hands up for challenges last season and with a small window to play were the only ones given a chance to compete for the O'Farrell Cup.

However Olsen would like to see more associations come back into the frame utilising a pool system, which he believes offers more competitive cricket across the region without the potential for a large time commitment or financial burden.

"We would still like to push forward for the pool situation where we have multiple associations involved, all associations play a few games before a finals scenario," he said.

"We want to give every association to play multiple games within the competition."

Wagga City captain Josh Thompson is expected to lead Wagga's charge this season.

Wagga proved too good for CAW Hume last season, scoring a 35-run win, before CAW Provincial scored a nine-wicket victory to maintain their grasp on the cup in the first final in almost 100 years of the competition.

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