Warrnambool and District Cricket Association will welcome a Grassmere Cricket Association team into its under 17 format for the 2016-17 summer.

The alignment will stretch to under 15 ranks, with Grassmere opening its arms to Warrnambool and District players to play in its modified Friday night competition.

Warrnambool and District president Gordon McLeod and his Grassmere counterpart Jason Elliott said the collaboration was a positive for junior cricket in the south-west.

The Warrnambool and District under 17 competition, which runs on Tuesday nights, will start on October 11. Grassmere does not run an under 17 section, with its under 15 players jumping straight to senior ranks, either via C, B or A grades.

McLeod hopes 11 teams, including first-time entrant East Warrnambool-YCW, will feature in the predominantly two-day under 17 season.

“It’s good for them and good for us. It’s always good to play against new players,” he said.

“It’s in everyone’s interests that both associations work together, to give juniors an opportunity to play the best standard of competition.

“I was really keen to work with Jason and both of us have come up with a plan to involve Grassmere at under 17s in our competition.

“And visa-versa – if clubs have a surplus of players, they can enter players in their under 15 competition.”

Elliott said Grassmere was thrilled with the outcome.

“We are really excited about building a strong working relationship together for the betterment of cricket in the area,” he said.

East Warrnambool-YCW is expected to confirm its commitment to an under 17 side in the next week. The round one draw is complete, featuring a Broncos’ bye.

Meanwhile, the Grassmere association has confirmed its draws.

A grade, featuring eight teams including the returning Wangoom and Woolsthorpe, will start with a one-dayer on October 8.