At No 1 Oval, talented Under 14 cricketers were playing a CNZ Trial, Hunter Valley pitted against Northern Inland in a game to determine the CNZ side to play in the Kookaburra Cup in the Manning Valley in a few weeks.

The Kookaburra Cup side will be named today and under coach Kel Walls and managers Paul Park and Tony Meppem the side travels to the Manning Valley to play in the Kookaburra Cup from January 14 to 17,  Meppem said.

“We had a good trial,” he said of what turned out to be an easy seven wicket win by Northern Inland.

After dismissing Hunter Valley for 75, Northern Inland made 3-78 in response.

“Northern Inland fielded and bowled really well,”  Meppem said.

“They didn’t give them (HV) any chance to get a roll on and then batted them out of the game by being patient.

“It was a very good team effort.”

Inverell’s Jaiden Tasker was one of the stars, taking 3-3 from his five overs as only Trent Park (15) and Cade Cust (15) reached double figures for HV.

Opening bowlers Lachlan Davidson (2-25) and Tom Scoble (1-5) were on target early too, with Nathan Trindall (1-14) and Scott Palombo (2-1) also picking up wickets.

Jye Paterson (10no) and Ryan Meppem (38) then put together a 55-run second wicket partnership to guide NI home.

At Dick Edwards, Hamish Batley ((3-24 off 10) and Keytan Hislop (1-7 off 6) spearheaded an early onslaught from an Invitational XI against the Bradman Cup squad.

They had the Bradman Cup squad under early pressure at 3-13 but Brandon Smith (39), Lochlan Elks (13), Toby Fox (23), Matt Dunn (26) and Mitch Lennon (28) led a middle order fightback to reach 8-175.

Jake Everett (1-14) and Lachlan Cumming (2-43) also bowled well in that trial for the young Bradman Cup squad to bowl out the Invitational XI for 127 and score a 48-run win.

Inverell’s Mitch Lennon also traded some good hits with the bat with an impressive seven- over bowling stint, collecting 4-26.

The red-headed paceman was well supported by Lucas Sargent (1-13),  Fox (1-8), Jake Brayshaw (1-34), Jayden Park (1-7) and  Elks (1-2), dismissing the Invitational XI for 127.

Luke Paterson (25) and Everett (36) topscored for the Invitational XI.

The Bradman Cup side also went into the game without four of its squad – James Psarakis, Ryan Hansen, Max Houlahan and Perry Stapleton.

The defending Bradman Cup holders have a new-look side under coaches Rod Bryant and Graeme Kent and manager John Kilborn.

“It was a good hit-out for them,”  Kilborn said.

“While it was a good hit-out for our boys, the Invitaional XI played well too.”