The under-16 MVCA representative side at Junior Country Week. Photo: Katamatite Cricket Club.
Murray Valley Cricket Association representatives performed admirably on the big stage during the Northern Rivers Junior Country Week hosted across the region last week, with both the MVCA under-15 and under-17 sides making grand final appearances.
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The under-15 side cruised through the group stage with wins over Cricket Shepparton and Seymour District Cricket Association, and while it did suffer a loss against Goulburn Murray Cricket in its final group game, the earlier wins were enough to see it face off against Bendigo District Cricket Association in the grand final.
With play reduced to 20 overs at Tallarook Recreation Reserve last Thursday, the MVCA side was asked to bowl after losing the toss, and Kohen Haddrell (Barooga) wasted no time in getting to work, snaring a wicket in his second over to reduce BDCA to 1-9.
Katamatite’s Riley Thompson, captain of the MVCA U15 side, claimed a five-wicket haul against SDCA. Photo: Murray Valley Cricket Association.
While Berrigan’s Jordan Swann claimed a second scalp shortly after, reducing BDCA to 2-30, the batting side was able to regroup, piling on a 94-run partnership for the third wicket before MVCA managed to find another breakthrough, which came via Haddrell, who finished with 2-29 from his four overs.
Swann too found another late wicket, and was also involved in a run out, finishing with figures of 2-23 as MVCA found late momentum, capping the BDCA innings at 5-134.
It was a disastrous start for the MVCA chase as Tocumwal’s Archer Chellew fell victim to a run out, before skipper Riley Thompson (Katamatite) was sent packing for a duck, with MVCA slumping to 2-12.
The wickets continued to fall as the BDCA side applied even more pressure, with MVCA finding itself in trouble at 5-26 after only 8.3 overs.
Swann did his best to steady the innings, adding an unbeaten 44 from 46 deliveries; however, the early damage proved too much for MVCA to overcome, finishing on 6-87 to finish as runner-up.
It was a similar story for the under-17 side, which cruised into the grand final following dominant victories over Goulburn Murray Cricket, Bendigo District and Seymour District, finishing top of the table and setting up a showdown with Cricket Shepparton.
Lining up at Moama Recreation Reserve last Thursday, again with the contest shortened to 20 overs due to the heat, the MVCA side was asked to bowl first after losing the toss, and Tocumwal’s Liam Sutton found an early breakthrough to leave the Shepparton side at 1-14.
The under-17 side celebrates a wicket during Junior Country Week.
Fellow Blood Tom White would snare the next scalp; however, not before Shepparton’s batters had rallied, adding 50 for the second wicket to advance to 2-64.
It would soon become 3-71 as White (2-26) procured a second wicket; however, once again the Shepparton side found a crucial partnership, putting on 43 for the fourth wicket and advancing the total well beyond 100.
Sutton would eventually break through, ending his efforts with figures of 2-16, as MVCA restricted CS to 4-124 from 20 overs.
With 125 needed for victory, MVCA began its chase in chaotic circumstances, losing both openers Bayden Hutchins (Nathalia) and Murphy Stephens (Barooga) early to fall to 2-10.
There would be plenty of starts for the MVCA batters, with the likes of Zander Quinn (Nathalia) and Ethan Bovalina (Barooga) both making 16; however, a fearsome Cricket Shepparton bowling attack continued to find wickets, as MVCA steadily slumped to 8-88.
Jules Cook (Katunga) remained at the crease, and provided some hope for the MVCA outfit; however, when he too fell for 23 to leave his side teetering at 9-94, it looked to be all over.
Cricket Shepparton would end the innings the very next ball, dismissing MVCA for 94 to claim victory by 30 runs.
In other divisions, the under-12 MVCA side battled hard and was competitive in all three group games, but was unable to claim a win, while the under-13 side was unlucky not to make the grand final, notching brilliant wins over GMC and SDCA in the group stage, but finishing third on the table due to net run rate.
The under-14 boys were competitive in their three outings, and while they were unable to pick up a win, secured a tie against Cricket Shepparton after a scintillating final over, while the under-16 outfit also competed strongly, notching a win over Cricket Shepparton in the group stage.
