Chloe Scicluna and Vanessa Simpson will draw some confidence from their final day performances as they prepare to step up from the Central North under-16s to under-19s for their country championship campaign.
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The pair were both notable performers for the under-16s as they finished off their carnival with a win and a loss at Riverside 2.
After a tough opening day losing both of their games, the home side couldn't have asked for a better start to the second day beating North Coastal by three wickets.
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At one stage it was looking like they might have a fair chase on their hands with the coastal side 1-55 after 11 overs.
But the Central North bowlers tightened the screws in the second half of the innings to restrict them to 7-82. Simpson was pivotal in the fightback claiming 3-7.
She then top-scored with 19 from 20, and put on 38 for the first wicket with skipper Mim Barbara (18) to set the foundation for the run chase.
They did have a bit of a wobble in the middle order, but Sophie Parsons (9no) and Kyanne Fowler (6no) saw them over the line, Parsons smacking the ball to the boundary to bring up the win with three overs to spare.
Co-coach Peter Graham said overall it was a better team performance from the girls, and noted the improvement with the ball and in the field particularly.
"We were a lot tighter with our bowling," he said.
"We bowled a better length and made it harder for them to score."
"Yesterday they were hitting fours. Today they were singles."
They were also a lot sharper in the field, which also contributed to that.
Backing up against Newcastle in the afternoon, some tight bowling restricted Central North to 7-60 from their 20 overs.
Scicluna was the shining light with 26.
"The Newcastle girls were pretty good, they bowled a good line and length," Graham said.
In reply they got the runs three wickets down and inside 13 overs, Molly Armstrong, Lara Robertson and Georgie Leonard sharing the spoils for the home side.
Graham and co-coach Eddie McGuirk were overall pretty happy with the girls efforts over the two days.
"They certainly improved and that's all you can ask for," he said.
For a lot of the girls it is their only cricket.
They are too a young side with only three top-age, which augers well for next year.
If they continue to improve like they have over the last 12 months, as disjointed as it has been, Graham said they should be a force.
Armstrong, who he said bowled well on both days, and Barbara will also back up for the 19s. They have Newcastle first-up at 12pm.
