The Team of the Year nomination by the Yass Valley Sports Council is just one more accolade to add to a growing list for the Yass Senior Representative team following their dominant 2015/16 season. 

After a summer in which they won the Stribley Shield for the eighth time, and only just lost to Bowral in the Country Plate final, the Yass Cricket team is looking to repeat their success again in 2017/18. 

However, according to Club Secretary Paul Barnes, the challenge will be the blending in a mix of youth this year along with the old faces. 

“The goals for this season are around rebuilding the rep squad,” Barnes said. 

“Historically we’ve really only had 12 to 13 players rotate through the team. We’d like to increase that to 15 to 20 players.

“We’re starting to blood a few players through the rep scene, and we’re actually hoping to increase that turnover of the rep team this year just to take the strain off the guys who have been doing it a long time.” 

Although Yass will no longer be taking part in the Country Plate competition, it certainly provided some entertainment during its final against Bowral in late 2015. 

Yass had Bowral reeling at 7-53 early in the match after being sent in to bowl. 

But they recovered to post 174, a tough proposition on a wicket worn from several days’ play. 

Yass were cruising early, but lost a bundle of wickets to be all out for 139, meaning that Bowral left with a hard-fought victory. 

The difference on the day was down to two factors according to Barnes: Bowral’s depth of ability, and their accuracy with the ball. 

“We had Bowral in a very precarious position, but to be honest they played really well,” Barnes said. 

“After that initial spate of wickets that we took, we were probably outplayed for the last two-thirds of the match.

“[They] probably had the most depth as well, within their team. We got their best four, five batsmen out, and they were still able to put a score together.” 

Barnes said that the team was “extremely proud” of their nomination for a Sports Award. 

The team is one of two nominees for the Team of the Year award, along with the Ladies’ 3^rd and 4^th Grade Redbacks sides. 

The desire to represent their community was a powerful driving factor for the team. 

“We’re extremely proud of the fact that we represent our community in regional competitions, and we take it quite seriously,” Barnes said.

“It’s an opportunity for our best players to play at a high level at what they do, week in, week out, so it [the award] gives them something to strive for.” 

The Sports Award presentations will take place this Saturday.