Sport
12 January, 2024
Wimmera Mallee U17s conclude country week with victory
It was a tough week for both Under-15 and Under-17 Wimmera Mallee Representative sides with the Under-17's securing a win to conclude country week today.
Wimmera Mallee Under 17's defeated Hamilton in a thriller by five runs.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Donald Jeffcott's Will Noble top scored with 23 off 12 balls in their total of 124. Their bowling was tight, restricting Hamilton to 6/119. St Arnaud's Kyle Torney was the pick of the bowlers with 2/24.
Earlier in the week they got their country week campaign underway on Tuesday with a 137 run loss against Portland.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Portland bowlers were on fire, never letting Wimmera Mallee get momentum, bowling them out for 82 in the 37th over. Donald Jeffcott's Colby Anderson top scored with an unbeaten 27.
Portland made 239 off their 50 overs. Kynan Torney was the best bowler with figures of 2/46.
On Wednesday they faced a tough Horsham outfit and despite losing by 28 runs, they played well.
BrimKSH's Kobe Macgregor took 2/25 as they restricted Horsham to 113 after their 20 overs. Charlton's Elliott Fitzpatrick top scored with 20 in reply.
On Thursday against South West, they lost by 116 runs. Elliott Fitzpatrick and Kynan Torney both took two wickets, finishing with 2/24 and 2/37 respectively.
They were bowled out for 58 in reply with Charlton's Hugh Sait top scoring with 10.
The Under 15's didn't manage to get a win but were competitive throughout the campaign. They kicked off their campaign with a 17 run loss against Portland at Murtoa Recreation Reserve.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, St Marys Chad Hartnett was unstoppable with the ball, claiming 3/7 off his 10 overs. Southern Mallee Giants' Jackson Moore also took 2/10 off his 10 overs in a tight bowling performance.
In reply, Charlton's Sebastian Zagame top scored with 15 and Watchem's Charlie Barber and Charlton's Leigh Van Boven scored 11.
On Wednesday against Warrnambool Blue at Coughlin Park, they won the toss and elected to bowl and bowled them out for 156 in the 46th over. Chad Hartnett, 2/22, Sebastian Zagame, 2/22 and Donald's Jam Pareja, 2/26, were the standout bowlers. Donald Jeffcott bowler and representative captain Chase Campbell alongside Jackson Moore, Charles Barber and Leigh Van Boven all picked up wickets as well.
In reply, Wimmera Mallee were bowled out for 55 off 28 overs with Leigh Van Boven and Charles Barber top scoring with 11 a-piece.
They played at Coughlin Park again on Thursday and faced a red hot Horsham outfit. After winning the toss and bowling, Horsham made 238 in their 50 overs. Jam Pareja, Sebastian Zagame and Leigh Van Boven all took one wicket a-piece.
They were bowled out for 45 in the chase in the 31st over. Chad Hartnett and Leigh Van Boven both top scored with seven with Hartnett remaining unbeaten.
In their final match on Friday, they put up a great competitive effort against South West.
After winning the toss and batting, they made 106 with Charles Barber leading the way with an unbeaten 26.
South West made 141 in reply with Chad Hartnett and Charlton's Ethan Soulsby the wicket takers with 1/18 and 1/4 respectively.
Hartnett had a sensational week finishing with six wickets.
They were coached by Warracknabeal's Gary Fernandez with Donald's Cooper Anderson his assistant.
Fernandez said the boys enjoyed themselves despite the losses.
"The boys are giving it all they can and we can't ask anything more than that," he said.
"They are enjoying their cricket. We want them to get something out of it, participate and enjoy it and we don't put pressure on them and we take a lot of positives out of the game.
"They bowled and fielded very well. It was a great experience for them and they will take something frm it and may find it easier when they get back to club cricket."
Fernandez said batting has always been a struggle, citing they have never been coached properly when they were younger.
"They haven't been coached properly at a junior age so it's hard to change their techniques," he said.
"We have struggled with batters over the years and after covid a lot of kids didn't come back to play cricket.
"They are gutsy kids, and they don't back down. They have a go and try their best which is great to see. We just need more juniors coming through and we hope that starts to pick up."
Jackson Moore took three wickets and was economical and he said he enjoyed the week.
"It's been alright. Sometimes it has been a bit hard, but I have enjoyed it," he said.
