CENTRAL North cricket is enjoying something of a golden run.
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This week the zone captured its second Bradman Cup – the symbol of Country cricket U16s supremacy.
It bookended a representative season that started with the U19s making it back to back championships, and also secured the zone the Hogg Silver Shield, much to the delight of Central North Zone chairman Terry Psarakis.
“To win the Hogg Silver makes us the the champion Country zone, which is excellent,” Psarakis said.
It was introduced last year, with Newcastle taking the inaugural honours.
“Newcastle were leading up until the Bradman Cup,” he said.
“After they won the first two games it looked like they were going to hold it.”
He said it was a reflection on all those involved, from the administrators to the coaches to the players.
“Obviously the most important is the players –they’ve really knuckled down,” Psarakis said.
“We’re trying to start a bit of a culture where to play for Central North is an honour.”
The Bradman Cup success came a week after the Kookaburra Cup (U14) side finished third in Griffith.
The girls’ 17s and 15s also performed well, although they didn’t come into calculations for the zone championship.
“We’ve probably got to try to work on the seniors,” Psarakis said.
That could mean naming their squad earlier and giving the players more training and coaching.
He said they have been talking about maybe going down to Sydney for some training.
The future though is certainly looking bright and there could be further accolades to come for the players.
From the U16 carnival, selectors will pick two ACT/NSW Country squads to go to Sydney in April.
“There’s a lot further for these players to aspire to,” Psarakis said.
“Obviously Paddy (Montgomery) is already in the system.”
He’s part of the Australian Cricket Pathway Rookie squad.
The 15-year-old Moree quick has had a big year.
He was also part of the CNZ U19s team and filled in for the opens.
“He’s had an enormous year,” Psarakis said. “He’s a good kid and going places.”
He is one of a stream of talented young bowlers coming through, with Inverell quick Tom Scoble and Narrabri allrounder Ryan Meppem joining him in the NSW Country/ACT colours for the U17s earlier in the year.
Psarakis went down to Newcastle to watch the Bradman Cup final.
“The boys did very well, especially after the second-day loss to Newcastle,” he said.
“They would have been very disappointed with the final result against Newcastle.
“That put Newcastle on two wins and us on one.”
They thought that was their title hopes done and dusted.
But then Newcastle was rolled by North Coast and Central North snuck through to the final against Southern/ACT.
“At one stage they (Southern) looked like getting 260/270,” Psarakis said.
“Well done to our blokes.
“We tightened up the bowling and in the field.”
After restricting them to 9-227, they were then looking in strife at 6-113.
“Jarrod (Watts) and Tyson (Rennie) batted very well,” Psarakis said.
“In saying that, Will Fort and Caleb McNeill battled well earlier.
“They steadied the ship a bit.”
Rennie top-scored with 67 and was duly adjudged the player of the final.
“It was just a very mature innings from Tyson,” Psarakis said.
He has been in good form.
“It was very good to show it in a game like that,” he said.
“I’m sure he’ll kick on from that.”
Head coach Kel Walls said it was a really good team effort.
That was the way all through the week, with different players performing different games.
He said they had been building this team since the 14s when they just missed out on the Kookaburra Cup final.
They knew they had something special.
They will now play the winners of the Green Shield (Sydney winners) some time in February for the state championship.
HOGG SILVER SHIELD STANDINGS: Central Northern 29, Newcastle 25, Western 24, Southern/ACT 24, Central Coast 19, Riverina 13, Illawarra 9, North Coastal 9.
