Standing united … Young Werribee cricketers Stephen Plumridge, Marcus Worrall, Kyle Andrews and Adam Duxson have been selected for the Western Spirit under 18 cricket team, which will contest the regional championships in Darwin in January. 57489 Picture: SARAH MATRAY
By Luke D’Anello
WESTERN Spirit will be out to defend their under 18 state championship title when the pathway tournament begins in Mildura early in the new year.
Coach Shane O’Brien is hopeful of a strong showing from the recently chosen 13-man squad.
The tournament, which begins on 10 January, pits eight metropolitan regions and eight country regions against each other.
The 16 teams are split into four pools, with the top-placed region in each group progressing to the semi-final stage. The final will be played at the MCG on 24 January.
Four current Werribee Junior Cricket Club products made the final cut, with Marcus Worrall, Stephen Plumridge, Kyle Andrews and Adam Duxson (Sunshine United and Werribee) all named.
Two members of Premier Cricket club Footscray-Edgewater, James Freeman and Jake Purton, who were also in last year’s victorious Spirit team, were selected. That pair also played juniors with Werribee.
Purton has scored one half-century in the Bulldogs’ second XI team this season, while Freeman has taken to the field in the second and third XI team.
Others named include; Sam Crea (Werribee Centrals), James Muirhead (Altona); Michael Culliver (Yarraville), Daniel Janka (Newport Digman); Daniel Popa (Williamstown), Braeden Kight (Melton) and Nick Gale (Melton).
“I think it’s a good mix. It’s probably not as strong as last year’s team, which had the three District firsts players,” O’Brien, entering his fourth year in charge, said.
“They’re probably an even group, and there are no real superstars. They should do pretty well.”
O’Brien said the tournament provided the perfect opportunity for players to press their case for higher honours.
Several strong performers in past seasons have progressed up the ranks. Footscray first XI wicketkeeper-batsman Dylan Kight is now a member of the Victorian under-19 team, after collecting 17 dismissals across seven games behind the stumps for the Spirit in last season’s tournament.
“The under-18s (state championships) can give you a leg-in to District firsts or District Seconds,” O’Brien said.
“They were nearly going to drop it away a few years ago, but I think the kids love it. The coaches love it, too, because it shows the best under 18 kids in Victoria.
“It’s really good, because you can play against District firsts players and you’ve got guys who are playing in the Subbies (VSDCA), the VTCA or even local comps, and they’re all equal when they play in the under 18s.
“As long as we play it in the right spirit and learn along the way, that’s the most important thing.”
Werribee Cricket Club committee member Wayne Plumridge said he was pleased the club’s strong junior program was again recognised.
“We work them through the system as best we can and try to encourage them to come through to the senior club,” Plumridge said.
“It’s a very close relationship, and it’s the future of the senior club.”
