While WDCA senior cricketers hook into things this weekend – or cut into them, if the ball’s on the off side – the league has released the full fixture for the four junior competitions in the 2025/16 season.

The WDCA confirmed a staggered start date for the various junior grades, with both the under 16 and under 14 competitions slated to start on Saturday, 11 October.

There are currently eight teams entered into the Under 16 Eugene Kneebone Shield competition this season, an increase of two sides from the previous field.

Greta and Yarrawonga Mulwala have entered sides in the under 16s competition, while Beechworth and Ovens Valley United have combined in the top age junior grade.

Under 16s cricket will fixture a mix of both T20 and two-day cricket – interestingly, with the WDCA’s decision to change A grade and A reserve to completely one-day competitions, the under 16s are now the only division to play two-day cricket in the WDCA.

The under 14s also kick off this weekend, and has contracted by a single team, from 13 to 12.

Benalla Bushrangers, City Colts, and Yarrawonga Mulwala will all field two teams, Wangaratta Magpies and Greta will reduce back to one team, while Rutherglen has elected not to field a team at all.

Beechworth Wanderers, Delatite, Ovens Valley and Rovers United Bruck will round out the under 14s.

The under 12s will commence their season a week later, from Friday, 17 October.

Once again, the teams will be split into two geographical divisions, Blue and Gold, to ease concerns over travel times, with nine teams in each division.

The winner from each of the divisions will play off for the ultimate under 12 crown, the Bill Daniel Shield, at the end of the season.

Benalla Bushrangers are fielding four teams, almost making up half of the Gold Division, while the Blue division will see a Milawa under 12 side for the first time in over a decade.

Advances are also being made expanding the WDCA’s All Girls League, with the competition now boasting six teams, up from five last season, and moving from an under 14 age group to under 15 to allow more participants.

Commencing on Sunday, 19 October, the competition has grown to a full 14-round season, complete with two rounds of finals, as opposed to the 10-round fixture last season.

The matches will be played on Sundays, to enable those who also play in the other junior competition to fill their weekend with cricket.