Albury has returned to the fray and will challenge for the first time since 2005 on December 2.

It will be the third challenge of the O’Farrell Cup season.

Wagga has taken advantage of first challenge and will clash with holders Holbrook on November 18 after losing the cup in the final challenge last season.

Griffith then follows before Albury, who will be looking to hit back following a third consecutive loss to Wagga in the Regional Bash, challenges.

Wagga Cricket operations manager Mel Rosengren is pleased to see the extra interest in the time honoured competition.

“There is a lot of more dates this year which is good,” Rosengren said.

It is the third successive year an association has come back into the O’Farrell Cup fold.

Yass is back for a second consecutive season, with a challenge on February 3, while Young, who returned two seasons ago, will challenge on February 10.

When the draw was originally released Ardlethan weren’t on the schedule, but have already taken the vacant slot on December 16.

West Wyalong, who held the cup over the winter two seasons ago, is a notable omission.

However Rosengren said they could fill the vacant slot on January 13 if they wanted to put in a challenge.

While the Holbrook and Brocklesby associations merged this season to form CAW Hume, captain Dean Howard explained only Holbrook players will be used for the title defence.

“We won the O’Farrell Cup as a Holbrook and District side and we thought we should defend it the same way,” Howard said.

“We’ll all come together after that.

“The merger has been going really well. I think it’s brought players back to the game.”

Wagga also has the last challenge on February 24 but it will be opened up if they hold the O’Farrell Cup.

November 18 –  Holbrook v Wagga

November 25 – Griffith

December 2 – Albury

December 9 – Cootamundra 

December 16 – Ardlethan

January 13 – vacant

January 20 – Temora

February 3 - Yass

February 10 – Young

February 17 - Leeton

February 24 - Wagga* if not holders or open if they are