Moree Secondary College’s Paddy Montgomery bowled his way to a state cap at Wollongong this week.
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The quick was named in the NSW CHS 1st XI to play at the All Schools tournament in March following the state carnival, which for his North West side didn’t quite reach the heights it promised.
They finished with a win and three losses, but showed what they were capable of in beating South Coast on Wednesday.
One of the carnival favourites, North West effectively put them out of contention.
“They sent us in and that back-fired,” coach Andrew Curry said.
“We got 220-odd and then bowled them out for about 140.”
Montgomery was integral to that, claiming the only five wicket haul for the carnival.
“He bowled really well and really quick that day,” Curry said.
It was their best performance for the carnival and, if they’d been able to play like that their other games Curry felt they would have placed a lot higher.
They wrapped up their campaign with a 23-run loss to Sydney West on Thursday.
“We were chasing 196 and got bowled out for 172,” Curry said.
“We just lost a few wickets when we couldn’t afford to.”
Ryan Meppem top-scored with 44, while Joe Smith made 30 and Lachie Fauchon 23.
“We got starts again but couldn’t capitalise,” he said.
It was the story of their carnival.
Keeper-batsmen Coby Cornish was judged their most valuable player.
“He scored 116 runs and had seven dismissals,” Curry said, and unlucky he thought not to make the state team.