Park and Sherritt played starring roles in their Maitland Under 14 side’s 76-run win over Tamworth Blue at Riverside 2 on Sunday.

Maitland brought Under 12, 14 and 16 sides to Tamworth on Sunday for the HVJCC matches while Tamworth also sent its Gold (Under 12, 13 and 15) sides to Inverell for Northern Inland Cricket Council Junior matches against New England.

The Golds lost all three games in Inverell against New England sides while the Blues lost 14 and 16 games in Tamworth but won the Under 12 clash by two wickets.

James Smith coaches the Tamworth Blue Under 12s and he was delighted with their two wicket win over Maitland at Max Sutton Oval (Riverside 3).

Sean Gibson (27) and Shannon Threlfo (16) topscored for a Maitland side which made 84 before Tamworth Blue made heavy  weather of the run chase in  compiling 8-92.

Lachlan Barton (34) was the only Blue batsman to reach double figures, with Joe Doherty (9) the next best.  

Doherty also claimed 1-10 while Cooper Kelly took 3-12 and Logan Barnes returned a fine 6-11 from his 5.3 overs of left-arm medium pace and wicketkeeper Henry Smith also gloved three good catches.

Rex Grieves (3-17) and leg-spinning Angus Ernst (4-14) almost bowled the visitors to victory.

“It was a good win,” Smith said.

“We’ve won all three games now, not by a lot but the boys are starting to grow in confidence.”

He said the side’s next game is against Upper Hunter in Tamworth in two weekends’ time.

“We have one more after Christmas after that before the finals.”

Tamworth Blue Under 16 coach Terry Browne said his side’s two wicket loss at Dick Edwards Oval (Riv 1) might have been a good thing after two relatively easy wins.

The 10-man Blue made just 9-121 before Maitland replied with 8-125.

Campbell Baker’s 58 was best for the Blue while James Psarakis also made 35.

Lucas and Callum Sargeant both took three wickets apiece for the visitors, with Jordan Muddle, Jayden Park and Ayun Merrick picking up wickets.

Jaymes Thomas (23), Brad Newman (24) and Luke Kauter (21no) topscored for Maitland while Ryan Horton’s 4-21 off seven overs was best for the home side.

Matt Dunn (1-19 off 10) and Antonio Comi (1-28 off 8) also bowled well while skipper Psarakis went wicketless in his eight overs but allowing just 12 runs.

“We didn’t score enough runs,”  Browne said.

“We batted well in patches. Campbell did bat really well, coming in at three against some good bowling too. 

“Maitland did bowl well, especially Lucas and Callum.

“And we bowled well too. 

“We had them 7-80 at one stage and were in with a big chance but couldn’t get another breakthrough.”

“Ryan (Horton) did bowl well but we do have a plethora of bowlers.”

Across the lane, Maitland Under 14s were dishing out a 76-run loss to the Simon Hood-coached Tamworth Blue Under 14s at Riverside 2.

 Park smacked a fine 91 for Maitland, slamming 10 fours in his 129-ball stay.

 Sherritt also made 29 and Dane Corben 15 in the 213-run total before bowling out Tamworth for 137.

Cooper Barnes (2-26), Matt Bryant (2-26) and Lachlan Davidson (2-26) all grabbed wickets for the Blue before Bryce Pratt (4-20), Trent Page (2-16), William Mirisch (1-17) and Connor Lupton (2-6) bowled the visitors to a good win.

Lachlan Fauchon (45) was the Blue’s topscorer before he was brilliantly caught in the gully by Sherritt.

Fauchon and Daniel Redshaw (23) put on 62 for the sixth wicket for the Blue in a game where it was always behind.

“We didn’t bowl consistently enough –  bowled both sides of the wicket,”  coach Simon Hood said.

“On a fast outfield like this it wasn’t good. But our fielding was good.”

He said his top order bats were unable to find the gaps and take quick singles, unlike their Maitland counterparts.

“Trent Park did bat very well though,” he said.

“He didn’t give a chance. But while we lost, they did stick at it well in that heat.”

Up in Inverell the three Tamworth Gold sides all lost, with the Dave Robinson-coached Under 15s losing to New England Under 16s in their Northern Inland Cricket Council clash by 99 runs.

NE scored 5-243 and bowled out the Gold for 124.

Highlight of that game was the unbeaten century of Mitch Lennon, who smacked 14 fours. Cameron Clout was best for the Gold with bat and ball, coach Dave Robinson said.

Inverell leg spinner Richard Wilson continued his good season by claiming 3-10 while Bill Higgins (2-17) and Ben Horneman (2-2) also grabbed good wickets.

New England Under 14s made 147 in their clash with the Gold and then bowled out the visitors for 104.

Luke Hodgson (57) topscored for NE while Joe Smith made 21.

Jai Paterson grabbed 4-22 from nine overs for the Gold while Luke Constable (2-18) and Kyle Cullen (1-18) also bowled well,  coach Chris Paterson said.

“They (New England) had a couple of very good bowlers,” he said.

Jayden Tasker (4-13 off 10) and Tom Scobel (3-8 off 8) terrorised the Gold top order and will be be in Tamworth this weekend playing for Northern Inland in a Kookaburra Cup trial against Hunter Valley.

AJ Pretorius (34) topscored for the Gold, with Jai Paterson (14) the only other player to reach double figures.