Central North has finished second in the under-14 Kookaburra Cup after immediately rebounding from a loss to beat Newcastle in the final round in Armidale on Thursday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sent into bat in the 40-over match at Jack Vallance Oval, Newcastle made 8-152.
Ryan Simpson saved his best for last for Central North, claiming 4-23 off five overs.
Central North reached the target in the 34th over for the loss of four wickets.
Central North skipper Jack Hamilton, of Tamworth, smashed a 82-ball 85 batting at No.3.
No.4 Lachlan Page chipped in with a 44-ball 37 not out.
Undefeated Western won the tournament, beating Central North by four points.
Central North had eight players selected in a combined Central North-North Coast side who will play in the eight-team State Challenge in Dubbo this month.
They are Hamilton, Page, Callum Henry, Max Farmer, Jake House, Jed Collins, Landan Price and Matt Holmes.
Commenting on the Newcastle match, Singleton-based Central North coach Barry Smith said: “We chased down 152, which is a pretty good score at this age.”