Murray Valley Cricket Association’s under-14s team - which included local players - took out their age final in last week’s Junior Country Week competition.
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They were pitted against the strong Goulburn Murray Cricket team, who they had lost to in a previous game - 10/124 to Goulburn Murray’s 5/139.
If trying to rectify a loss in their previous match up wasn’t pressure enough, this would also be the first time in 24 years the MVCA under-14s were to win a final if they prevailed.
The final game was played at Deakin Reserve, Shepparton.
MVCA won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to make a total they could defend.
With strong contributions from their first four batters, the MVCA side was well positioned.
The team’s first four batters made over twenty runs each, with a high score from Archie Chellew who scored 37.
The basis of a good score was set by the strong start to the batting attack for the MVCA side, in fact, the strong top order probably accounted for a pair of golden ducks down the order.
Batting out their 40 overs, the MVCA side made a respectable 143, with two wickets in hand.
The Goulburn Murray bowlers found it difficult to come by wickets in the beginning of the innings, their spread of wickets and number of bowlers showed a team effort in the bowling attack.
The same could be said of the MVCA side as they had a number of different bowlers in the attack with six different bowlers taking one or more wickets.
Charlie Pekin tried his best as an opener for the Goulburn Murray team, putting up 29 runs to start the chase, unfortunately he only had one other teammate produce a score note, with Judd Cuttriss coming in at number four and scoring 23.
The Goulburn Murray side did fight hard in their chase but eventually fell short, they batted out their forty overs but also lost their final wicket on the final ball.
Final score: MVCA 10/143 to Goulburn Murray 10/134.
Some of the players who stood out during the match for the MVCA were Archie Chellew, James Winn, Riley Thompson and Jordan Swann, the four batters who helped to score the winning total.
With the ball, Archie Paterson was the only player to take more than one wicket, taking a pair off his seven overs.
The other five bowlers who took one wicket each were Lucas Baron, Jordan Swann, Kohen Haddrell, Oliver Benson and Riley Thompson.
The under-14s were the only MVCA team to make finals.
Players in the side were: Riley Thompson (c), Kohen Haddrell, Jordan Swann, Lucas Baron, Archer Chellew, Archie Paterson, James Winn, Chase Dickens, Angus Urquhart, James White, Oliver Benson, Kade Rogers. Coach: Keith Baron.
In their journey to the grand final, the under-14s’ first game of the week was against the more than capable Goulburn Murray Cricket last Tuesday in Kyabram.
Going out to field first, the MVCA side tried their hardest to keep the run rate down with some tight bowling and an enthusiasm on the field.
The GMC side eventually went on to make a total of 139 after 40 overs.
Jordan Swann was the only bowler for the MVCA side to take two wickets, he also made an unbeaten 50, retiring after making the score.
Final score: MVCA 10/124 lost to GMC 5/139.
Last Wednesday, the MVCA team took on Shepparton in Shepparton.
MVCA won the toss and elected to bat first, setting a decent total of 119, the side got stuck in the second innings, having Shepparton all bowled out for 68.
Final score; MVCA 8/119 def Shepparton 10/68.
Under-13s
On Tuesday, January 7, the MVCA under-13s played against the Goulburn Murray Cricket, the area that encompasses both Echuca and Moama.
The Goulburn Murray team set an exceptional target of 231, a massive score for an under-13s team.
Played at Strathfieldsaye, the match between the two neighbouring regions, was a good display of competitive team play and individual brilliance.
Deniliquin cricketer Daniel Burn scored an unbeaten 50, before retiring.
Daniel also rolled the arm over, putting in a good bowling spell and picking up a wicket, but his local teammate Henry Pisasale was not to be outdone, going on to take two wickets himself.
Unfortunately, the under-13s MVCA fell short in that first match-up only making 140 of the total they were chasing of 231.
Final scores: MVCA 4/126 lost to GMC 4/231.
In the second game, their final game after their first scheduled game was abandoned due to weather, they took on Seymour District at Strathfieldsaye.
MVCA won the toss and elected to bowl first.
The MVCA side got off to a pretty good start, taking wickets early and sending batsmen back to the sheds cheaply.
Beyond a top score from Jaidyn Dimech of 60, after coming in at number six, the MVCA bowled and fielded well.
Daniel Burn got another chance to bowl and did so well, he was able to take two wickets off five overs, with a caught and bowled wicket in the match.
The Seymour District team ended up with a total of 164 after being all bowled out.
Being sent out to bat second and with a clear target score, the MVCA side looked like running down Seymour District’s score.
Daniel Burn was a highlight for the team, falling two runs shy of a half century on 48.
Final score: MVCA 10/118 lost to Seymour 10/164.
Players in the side were: Daniel Burn, Ollie East, Jed Flanagan, Oliver Bramich, Lucas Grieves, Jacob Holschier, Mitchell Carr, James Bray, Ashtyn Speechly, Axel Henderson, Henry Pisasale, Ben Padman. Coach: Tim Bramich.
Under-15s
MVCA were too good in their game, playing Goulburn Murray Cricket in Tallarook, on Tuesday.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the MVCA team were confident their batters could make a score they could defend.
Which they did, going on to put 166 on the scoreboard in their 45 overs.
Sending out the GMC team to bat second, MVCA couldn’t have started better after sending the opposition opening batsman back off the ground for a duck.
Ted Wren and Fletcher Campion both took part in the match.
Ted was looked to with the ball, eventually taking three wickets for his side off five overs.
Fletcher did not bowl, and his side didn’t require him to bat, having the GMC score chased down and the game over with four wickets in hand.
Final score: GMC 10/129 lost to MVCA 6/166.
In the side’s second game, they played against Seymour District in Avenel on Wednesday.
Winning the toss and electing to bowl first, the Seymour side bowled tightly, not leaking any runs, eventually holding the MVCA side to a total of 101.
Ted Wren had a bowl and took a wicket for his team, unfortunately the total they set just wasn’t enough to hold off their opposition.
Final score: MVCA 10/101 lost to Seymour District 4/102.
Players in the side were: Bodey Webb, Cooper Mynard, Lenny Power, Ted Wren, Evan Lawton, Fletcher Campion, Tom Taylor, Nate Leith, Archie Daniel, Eamon Hyde, Lachlan Packer, Gus Frostick. Coach: Tim Mynard.
Under-16s
The MVCA under-16s were only able to play two of their three scheduled games.
Having their first game on Monday abandoned due to weather, the team squared off with Goulburn Murray Cricket on Wednesday, at Tuesday.
Getting off to a good start, the MVCA side had the runs flowing, one such player getting among the runs was Murphy Stephens who put up 51 runs.
Final scores: MVCA 9/173 def GMC 10/139.
In the side's final game on Wednesday against Shepparton, they faced a strong starting total against their opposition.
Shepparton set the tone with a big total of 219 after going out to bat first, finishing their 45 overs with two wickets in hand.
MVCA tried their hardest in the chase, unfortunately falling short after being all bowled out for 137.
The game was played in Barooga.
Players in the side were: Ethan Bovalina, Charlie McCallum, Crue Lucas, Murphy Stephens, Tom White, Sam Bennett, Jules Cook, Giordan Lukies, Archie Erickson, Rocco Anastasio, Isaiah Benson, Zander Quinn, Liam Sutton. Coaches: Ben Lucas and Jason Stephens.
Under-17s
Like other teams, the MVCA under-17s had their first game rained out.
In their first actual day of play, the side took on Goulburn Murray Cricket in Tongala on Tuesday.
Losing the toss and being sent out to field first, the MVCA side had to try and keep the Goulburn Murray side to an attainable score.
The MVCA’s opposition went on to make a more than adequate score of 203, batting out their 45 overs.
Going into bat second, MVCA had a real task on their hand.
Chasing down a big score is often a hard and daunting task.
The MVCA team weren’t able to chase down their opposition total, eventually being all bowled out for 145.
Final score: MVCA 10/145 lost to GMC 7/203.
Players in the side were: Jeremy Packer, Hamish Baker, Hughie Stammers, Harry Ryan, Ollie Ruscoe, Mikael Artavilla-Bennett, Lachlan Whelan, James McPherson, Jaxon Webb, Codi Bowden, Seth McCracken. Coach: Jono Oliver.