Cricket club returns to top grade after 15-year hiatus

TERRANORA Lakes Cricket Club will return to the Far North Coast LJ Hooker League this season, ending a 15-year absence from the top grade.

The club has recruited strongly and seized the chance to rejoin the 10-team competition when a spot became available for the upcoming season. There will be four Tweed-based clubs, with Murwillumbah dropping down a grade to rebuild.

“We’ve recruited well in the offseason and have some other guys coming back in,” Terranora Lakes club president Leo Araujo said.

“It was probably only in the last month or so where it really started to take shape.

“I wasn’t around the club when we last played in the competition, but I know how hard it can be to be competitive when you’re struggling for numbers.

“The best thing we’ve done in recent years is to have more players coming in than we do going out.”

Cudgen has been the dominant team of the past 15 years, winning eight grand finals, while Alstonville, Ballina Bears, Goonellabah Workers Sports and Marist Brothers have also claimed premierships. Workers reached the final in its first year in 2020–21 before winning the following season.

Araujo said Terranora Lakes has not set high expectations for its return but expects the side to be competitive.

“We’re hoping to land middle of the pack, but you never know, fairytales can happen,” he said.

“I think we’ll be up for whatever challenge comes our way and we still have guys in the club that have a lot of experience and will be good support for this playing group.”

The competition begins on Saturday, October 11, with Terranora Lakes facing defending premiers Cudgen at Reg Dalton Oval, Kingscliff.