The revamped Ron George Trophy saw some big hits and big scores when it was contested on Wednesday.
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Oscar King blasted an unbeaten 175 for his Carinya side while Farrer’s Mitch Henderson smacked 93 in the eventual champions' total of 3-203 against Oxley.
Formerly a multi-week tournament for secondary school opens teams, the long-running competition was staged as a Twenty20 Blast and supported by a new division for 14s teams.
Fittingly named in honour of staunch advocate and long-time competition convenor John Kilborn, Carinya were crowned the inaugural shield winners.
Kilborn has been organising and running the competition since 1980, and is delighted to see that the event will now have a modern ongoing legacy.
“Twenty20 cricket is what the players are all chasing today,” he said.
Farrer accounted for Oxley, Carinya and McCarthy on their way to back to back Ron George triumphs.
King’s knock was one of the highlights of the day.
Carrying his bat he smoked 15 sixes as his side amassed 1-250 against Oxley.
The 14s was played as a 16-over nine-a-side format.
Carinya were undefeated for the day and secured the title with a 35 run win over Oxley.
Batting first Carinya posted 4-138 before restricting Oxley, who had also won their previous two games, to 103.
“They were impressive,” Kilborn said.
They scored over 100 in all three of their games and against both Farrer Green and Farrer Gold kept their opposition to under 90.
The plan for the future is to grow the tournament and have all seven schools participating in three divisions – open boys, 14s boys and open girls.
Discussions have also started to run a similar competition in Armidale, Inverell and Gunnedah and bring the winners together to play off for a regional championship.