For a while, Carisbrook-Dunedin more closely resembled an Eathorne family reunion than a senior cricket team.
All five brothers — Sean and Kieran (30), Brendan (28), Nick (25) and Liam (21) — have played for the senior team at various times and it seemed possible they all might play at the same time.
It never happened and now there is just one left on the team sheet.
And, all going well, Sean will be too busy carving up for Otago to play much club cricket.
He has accepted a provincial contract this summer and has taken leave from his job at Dunedin Venues Management Ltd.
"Obviously, with the Volts contract, there will be opportunities there," he said.
"But when I’m not involved [with Otago] I’ll certainly be looking to play for Carisbrook-Dunedin. We’ve got a reasonably young side with some pretty good cricketers."
As for the lack of Eathornes on the team list, Sean said his brother Nick had moved to Melbourne, while Liam and Kieran were looking at playing in the second grade.
Brendan, a turf manager at Dunedin Venues, has made only the odd cameo during the past few seasons, so the chance of all five playing in the same game has seemingly slipped away.
"We did get close but I don’t think that will happen. We’ve definitely had four play."
Whether there are any Eathornes in the team or not, the challenge ahead is clear.
It has been 16 seasons since the club won the senior banner and the Tonga Park-based outfit would like to end that drought.
The competition gets under way today with a round of 50-over games.
Albion will host defending champion Kaikorai at Culling Park, North East Valley has drawn Green Island at Bayfield Park, while Carisbrook-Dunedin has an opportunity to make a good start with a home fixture played against Taieri.
The team has shed experience with the departure of key batsman Brad Rodden.
He has moved to Auckland for work and will leave a void in the top order.
Leg spinner Rhys Phillips is contracted to Otago this summer and might not play a lot of club cricket this summer.
Otago top order batsman Ryan Duffy has transferred from Kaikorai and will be a valuable asset when he is not required for the Volts.
Exciting Waitaki Boys’ High School right-armer Nathan Smith will join the club after Christmas.
He made his first-class debut last summer, taking three for 80 and looks a very promising talent.
Batsman Taine Bayly, who played for Otago age group teams last season, will co-captain the team with Nik Swain when Sean Eathorne is unavailable.
He is a highly rated prospect.
Another player to watch is wicketkeeper-batsman Max Chu.
He will bat in the top order and is one of the young players the team will look to to pick up the load Rodden used to bear.
Stylish right-hander Anjas Bhogal impressed with the bat at the national under-19 tournament last season.
Left-armer Chris Ware is one of the quicker bowlers on the club scene and will lead the attack, while all-rounder Richard Sillars has moved down from Auckland to press for provincial opportunities.
Powerful left-hander Michael Bracewell is in the squad but he is firmly entrenched in the Otago team and will not be available very often.
Kaikorai won the title last season and played some sparkling cricket in the process.
All-rounder Geordie Scott had a breakout season and will captain the team following the retirement of hard-hitting all-rounder Iain Robertson.
Batsmen Matt Hunter will be missed as well.
Green Island has the same old crew back.
Medium pacer Dion Lobb has about a million club wickets and it will be interesting to see how left-armer Blair Soper goes.
He made his way back from injury last season and is a dangerous bowler when fully fit.
All-rounder Christi Viljoen impressed for Otago late in the season and will want to build on that form.
Albion has lured Teja Nidamanuru south.
He has played for Auckland A and is a batsman and off-spinner.
The club has also picked up top order batsman Josh Tasman-Jones from Taieri.
North East Valley has lost the playing services of spinner Simon Murley.
He will remain with the club but in administrative and coaching roles.
The Valley had mixed results last summer and, with a bit more consistency, should be more competitive.
Taieri struggled early on but improved the more games the team had together.
The club has been rebuilding since it came close to pulling out of the senior grade two seasons ago.
But membership has held steady and president Clint Hayward hopes better results are ahead.
