Under 15s claim Gippsland Country Week title

IT WAS finals day in the Gippsland Cricket League Sunday competition and the Leongatha and District Cricket Association was well represented.

The LDCA Women’s Team had won through to the grand final against Sale-Maffra at Bundalaguah Cricket Club (Col Wrigglesworth Oval and the LDCA Under 15s met Bairnsdale at the Wurruk Cricket Ground.

The Women’s team came up against a talented outfit Sale-Maffra on their own ground, and they set them the formidable target of 4/174 off 40 overs.

The batting response was in trouble early and while the captain Kathy Zacharopoulos showed resolve  with balls faced for a score of 10 and likewise Holly Williams with 11, the locals were too strong and deserved their win.

But it was a different story for the Under 15 Boys team

Here’s their report posted on Facebook earlier:

The LDCA U15 Junior Country Week team travelled to Sale to take on Bairnsdale at the Wurruk Cricket Ground.

There was some pre-game drama with a wet patch from a leaking sprinkler in the inner circle and the condition of the pitch was the centre of conversation for others, led to the LDCA Coach Scott Checkley and Team Manager David Harris insisting the boys focus on playing their best cricket no matter what the conditions and to block out any outside distractions.

Losing the toss, the LDCA boys were asked to bowl first with George McCausland (Phillip Island) and Isaac Bolge (Imperials) opening the bowling.

Bairnsdale's in-form opening pair of Seth Noonan and Mitchell Johnson looked strong until McCausland dismissed Seth Noonan bringing Campbell Moncreiff to the crease. He and Johnson were looking solid until Heath Womersley (Phillip Island) entered the attack. His skill in cutting the ball off the wicket saw him claim Moncreiff, captain Kruze Farley and Cody Southen in a devastating 6-over spell to leave Bairnsdale 4-61.

There was some solid bowling by Archie Gannon (Nerrena), Archie Casey (Imperials) and Rhys Newman (Inverloch) through the middle overs, plus the run out of Johnson who had played a wonderful patient innings of 28 off 109 balls faced to hold up an end.

The LDCA then gave George McCausland the ball for his second spell and he proceeded to rip through the rest of the batting order, skipper Andot Mankhong (Wonthaggi) taking a screamer at first slip to end the innings with Bairnsdale dismissed for 105.

Fletcher McLennan chipped in with a wicket, George McCausland 5-13 off 9.5 overs, Heath Womersley 3-7 off 6 overs and a great runout from Archie Casey were keys.

At the lunch break the LDCA boys spoke about the importance of getting off to a good start and Riley Harris 44 (Inverloch) and Heath Womersley 20 did just that putting on 75 for the opening partnership.

Womersley was playing very straight and patiently and Harris played his best innings of the tournament, displaying some magnificent stroke play on a pitch still offering plenty for the bowlers.

With the opening pair then dismissed, Rhys Newman and Clayton Quaife showed great maturity and confidence to steer the LDCA boys home to claim their first Gippsland Region 7, U15 Junior Country Week title since 2015 in a very clinical and professional display of cricket.

Full credit must go to these boys on how they grew throughout the tournament and played their best game on the big stage, the schedule of five Sundays in-a-row after Xmas was a challenge that the boys handled with great enthusiasm.

A big thanks to everyone for their support, the parents for their commitment to Rep Cricket, JCW U15 Sponsors Wonthaggi Toyota, Evans Petroleum and Schreurs & Sons for their support of Junior Cricket.

The U15's win together with the U13's win last week shows the LDCA is full of great young talent.

Contributed by Scott Checkley and Bec Casey.