IT IS not often you will see an Australian and a Kiwi battling side by side in a sporting arena, but it is a combination Reigate Priory hope to help them challenge for the Surrey Championship title this summer.
Australian Andy Delmont, 28, return to the Llamas for a third season, hoping to see the Park Lane team mount a bid for the Premier Division title after two silverware-less summers.
Delmont is joined by former New Zealand U19s captain Craig Cachopa, who is looking forward to his first season in English cricket.
As well as playing for the Reigate Priory first team, the pair, who are both predominately batsmen, will be part of the coaching set up to bring forward a whole new generation of young Llamas.
And it is the organised set-up and dedication to coaching that has kept Delmont leaving his Melbourne-base for the far less sunny climes of east Surrey.
"It's just a great club to be involved in," he explained. "It's my third season here now. The committee and support staff do a fantastic job and really look after us as coaches. The player development programme we have in place is all about the future and the vision they have at this club.
"They are really putting a lot of things in place for the place, and I want to be part of building that and the future success of the club."
And it seems Priory's reputation has reached further than you might think, with Cachopa revealing it did not take much persuasion for him to embark on only his third trip to the United Kingdom.
"I've always wanted to come to England to play a season," the 22-year-old said. "Reigate's director of cricket Michael Foster gave me a ring and told me about the new development programme that they have in place. So I'm here as a coach and getting to play every Saturday is a bonus.
"A lot of people over in New Zealand told me about how great it was. A lot of them have played Lashings here and so they said it was a great club with some good lads. So as soon as Foz gave me a call, I got a feel for the club and I was pretty keen to sign up."
And Cachopa, who is also a handy wicket-keeper, is keen to balance his coaching role with playing a part in a winning season for the first team.
"Coaching will be the priority during the week because we are keen to push the youngsters and give Reigate some future stars," Cachopa said. "But come the weekend it will be a switch to playing and trying to push for the title."
Reigate Priory start their assault on the Surrey Championship this weekend by hosting Premier Division newcomers, last season's Division One champions, Leatherhead, and Delmont isn't taking the new-boys lightly.
"They will want to take down one of the big teams," Delmont said with a wry smile. "It will be a good test. We're playing at home and if the weather is like it was last Saturday, it will be a great day. I'm looking forward to it.
"In terms of competition, the Surrey Premier is getting really strong and it's good for our improvement as cricketers. I'm really looking forward to this season.
"The last couple of years, the consistent teams have been Sunbury and Wimbledon, and the local rivals, Banstead, are always very competitive. I think once again it will be a strong league. I've heard the two teams coming up from Division One are pretty handy and dangerous teams. We've got to be on top of our game if we want to take it on."
Andy Delmont wand Craig Cachopa will be writing a weekly column for the Surrey Mirror starting next Thursday.
