LDCA juniors the best of the best

THE LDCA U13 and U15 teams travelled to Mirboo North on Sunday, the U13s for the grand final of the Junior Development League and the U15s with their last home and away game and a chance to qualify for the grand final. 

U13 results 

Sale Maffra won the toss and elected to bat first in overcast and humid conditions, S/M got off to a good start against the LDCA’s dynamic duo Louis Read (KLRSL) and Jobe Williams ( Phillip Island), before the first wicket fell at 1/37 with Will Braden falling to Ty Debono (Inverloch).

This led to a great period for the LDCA boys, where they claimed 6-12 to reduce S/M to 6/49. Ashane Fernando batted very well late for S/M to get them to the total of 103 all out. 

Best bowlers were Jobe Williams 2/13, Louis Read 2/23, Ty Debono 2/10  Max Johnston (Foster) 2/5  with the leg spinning duo of Cooper Newman (Inverloch) and Archie Williams (Phillip Island) claiming a wicket each.

The LDCA’s turn to bat with in form openers Eamon Berryman (Nerrena) and Evan Belvedere (Korumburra).

An early wicket lost with Berryman dismissed saw a good little partnership with skipper Cooper Newman and Belvedere, before Belvedere was dismissed. 

This saw another in form player Ty Debono stride to the crease, and together with Newman, (20) put on a handy 21 run partnership before both boys were dismissed to have the LDCA in some strife at 4/47.

This was when Jobe Williams and Louis Read formed the match winning partnership of 46, both left handers played very well showing good patience and technique against some very disciplined bowling, putting the few bad balls away that were on offer. 

A mix up running between wicket saw Read (24) out at 6/94 Max Johnston and Jobe Williams 25no then saw the LDCA home to victory, with Williams showing great composure in the tense situation. 

Well done to coach Brett Debono and team manager Tarryn Allan for their efforts in getting the boys to gel together and play great cricket throughout the series. 

U15 results

Needing a win to be guaranteed a spot on the grand final, the LDCA boys lost the toss and were sent into bat on a sticky Mirboo North Turf Wicket by the Latrobe Valley. 

Riley Harris 15 (Inverloch) and Heath Womersley (Phillip Island) opening the innings, conditions were pretty tough against some quality bowling with the LDCA reduced to 4/28 with the dismissal of skipper Andot Mankhong (Wonthaggi).

At this stage of the game the LDCA desperately needed a partnership, and Clayton Quaife 24 (OMK) and Roy Checkley 13 (Korumburra) really knuckled down with some solid defence and smart strokes. 

They put on a valuable 40 runs before as often happens, both boys were dismissed soon after. 

At 7/78 Archie Casey 21 (Imperials) Kade Berryman 18 (Nerrena) Archie Gannon 13no (Nerrena) finished off the innings extremely well with some great running between the wickets and some good strokes to get the score up to 134, a good effort given the lively nature of the pitch. 

The LDCA’s turn to bowl saw George McCausland (Phillip Island) Isaac Bolge (Imperials) once again bowl great opening spells, to reduce the Latrobe Valley to 3/4 off 12 overs the introduction of Rhys Newman kept the wickets falling to see LV at 6/26.

Skipper Andot did a great job of sharing the bowling around and all the bowlers used did the job to dismiss the Latrobe Valley for 49. 

Rhys Newman (Inverloch) 3/6, George McCausland 2/1 the pick of the bowlers with Fletcher McLennan (Town), Isaac Bolge and Klayton McGrath (Imperials) all single wicket takers in another good team performance with the ball and in the field. 

Thanks to Mirboo North Cricket Club for the use of their ovals and facilities as host club.   

The boys now take on a very good Bairnsdale team in the Grand Final at Wurruk (Sale) on Sunday, February 5, in what should be a great game of cricket.