ARMIDALE junior cricketers have leapt into the new season with gusto as various games and carnivals took place over the school holiday period.
Following on from the Surf ‘n’ Turf pre-season rep games against Coffs Harbour, where Armidale’s under-12 side was victorious, many Armidale players travelled to Tamworth as members of Northern Tablelands under-13, under-14 and under-16 sides to contest the Central North Invitational Carnival.
Northern Tablelands played games against North West, Hunter Valley and Mid North Coast in all age groups. The standard is always high at this carnival and the under-13s were excited to come home with a win against North West which put them in equal first position after round two. Unfortunately the team lost their final game against Mid North Coast but coach Michael Dennis was pleased with his team’s efforts.
“There were some good individual performances during the carnival, but especially pleasing were their efforts as a team which are to be commended as well,” he said.
Many players then returned to Armidale for games against a visiting Scots College under-15s side. Scots returned to Sydney undefeated in their seven games around the region, but not before Armidale’s Invitational side gave them a scare in the Twenty20 under lights on Wednesday night.
The game came down to the final stages with Scots needing 16 runs to win from the last three overs. In the end they made it with just a few balls to spare, but it was certainly very exciting and had the players and coaches on the edge of their seats.
Will Waterson and Lochlan Elks top scored in the T20 making 28 and 21 respectively. Tom Stier came away with the best bowling figures of 2-13 from his three overs, with Lochlan Elks also claiming a wicket.
Juniors cricketers will have a break now until the club competition begins on Saturday 19 October, with the rep season getting underway the following day as Armidale hosts Gunnedah in the first round of the Northern Inland Rep Competition.
Results
Wednesday – two T20 games:
Game 1: Scots v TAS – Scots won by 71 runs (Scots’ A. McGrath 75 not out, TAS’s Charlie Radford 2-33).
Game 2: Scots v Armidale Invitational XI – very close game, Scots won by 7 wickets with one over in hand (Armidale’s Will Waterson 28, Lochie Elks 21, Scots’ Matthew Jones 4-11 from his four overs, Scots’ Tommy Scribner 44, Armidale’s Tom Stier 2-13).
Thursday – Scots v TAS in a 50-over game – Scots won by 153 runs.
Scots 299 from 50 overs, TAS in reply 146 but managed to bat out their 50 overs.
Friday – Scots v Armidale Invitational in a 50-over game – Scots won by 79 runs.
Scots 4-280 after 50 overs (Matthew Jones 135 not out, Alex Browne the most economical bowler for Armidale 0-11 off 5 overs). Armidale all out for 201 after 45 overs (Will Waterson 41, Clancy Rowlands 36, Lochlan Elks 32, Scots Max Patterson 3-22, Xavier Roach 3-23).
