Bamawm-Lockington United’s Royce Serpell guides one into the onside for GMC’s under-17 boys against Cricket Shepparton on Wednesday. Photos: Jordan Townrow
Goulburn Murray Cricket’s talented contingent is in the spotlight this week, battling other associations in the Northern Rivers region at Junior Country Week.
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Grounds as nearby as Moama and as far afield as Cohuna, Bendigo and Shepparton, are in use as GMC featured in seven grades, under-12 to under-17 for boys and under-17 for girls.
Select grades got under way on Sunday, with all grades in action from Monday to Wednesday.
Echuca’s William Kerr gets behind the line.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
GMC under-17 boys squad had the draw closest to home, playing at Cohuna on Monday before fixtures at Tongala and Moama to close out their tournament.
The side started on the back foot, falling to Murray Valley Cricket Association by 15 runs on day one, and suffering a two-wicket defeat to Wangaratta on day two.
However, some starring performances on Wednesday saw GMC get on top of Cricket Shepparton by 12 runs.
Rochester’s Cale James slashes one towards point against Wangaratta on Tuesday.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
From 5-30, a partnership of 82 between Echuca’s Liam Beasley (45 not out) and Kyabram Fire Brigade’s Wil Harrison (37) helped GMC post 6-120 in the heat-shortened Twenty20 contest.
Jackson Groves then helped complete the victory with the ball, bowling a miserly 3-4 from four overs, while Cale James (3-20) also took three wickets.
Despite the win GMC did not qualify for finals.
Cricket Shepparton celebrates a wicket.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The under-17 girls weren’t able to pick up a win in either of their fixtures, first going down to Bendigo District Cricket Association by three wickets.
In the squad’s second match, strong bowling by Echuca’s Sophie Good (3-7) and Moama’s Sadie Laffy (2-21) had GMC on the brink of claiming victory, but Gisborne was able to find the boundary with the final delivery of the match, winning the game at the last opportunity.
In a hard-fought under-16 boys division, GMC won one of three matches, but managed to scrape into the grand final round.
Liam Beasley is struck on the pad.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
A big win over MVCA got the side over the line after strong scores from Jasper Hare (Leitchville-Gunbower), Macklan Dalziel (Echuca) and Ryan Caldwell (Echuca).
The squad will battle BDCA, which went 3-0 in the rounds stage, in the decider.
The under-15 boys had a positive campaign, scoring two wins from three games, defeating BDCA and MVCA.
Connor Ormond delivers at pace for Wangaratta.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The highlight performance of the squad’s tournament was Makore Dickinson (Rochester) taking 5-19 to lead his side to victory over BDCA, while club teammate Asher Rasmussen also made 43 in the same game.
Kyabram Fire Brigade’s Archie Sheppard fell short of a half-century against MVCA making 49 from 44 deliveries.
The side missed out on the final by quotient.
Archy Harrison sends one down for Cricket Shepparton.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
GMC’s under-14 boys headed to the grand final after winning two of three fixtures.
The side put on 191 in its 40 overs against MVCA after a clinical 81 at the top of the order from Moama’s Max Johns, winning by 72 runs.
Mowers teammate Sam McCleary took 4-6 in the following day's 66-run win over Cricket Shepparton.
The under-13 boys side wasn’t able to secure a win in any of its three fixtures across Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
The squad’s highest team score was 149, compiled against Cricket Shepparton on Monday, the innings led by 51 from Rochester’s Cooper Rasmussen.
GMC under-12 boys are front-runners in the division after winning all three round matches over MVCA, Cricket Shepparton and BDCA.
The side put up 8-160 against Cricket Shepparton, led by Moama’s Toby Teasdale who made 81.
At the time of writing, grand finals are ongoing on Thursday, January 8.