Junior Country Week cricket can be some of the most difficult and rewarding cricket that some of these young men will play.
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Three Murray Valley Cricket Association teams were to meant to have begun their fixture in the Country Week competition on Monday, it would seem all teams missed out on playing that day due to weather.
Every one of the MVCA teams have now played two games, one on the Tuesday and another on the Wednesday.
Games have been competitive between the different regions, for the most part.
Under-13s
On Tuesday, January 7, the MVCA Under-13s played against the Goulburn Murray Cricket, the area that encompasses both Echuca and Moama.
The Goulburn Murray team set an exceptional target of 231, a massive score for an Under-13s team.
Played at Strathfieldsaye, the match between the two neighbouring regions, was a good display of competitive team play and individual brilliance.
Local junior cricketer Daniel Burn scored an unbeaten 50, before retiring.
Daniel also rolled the arm over, putting in a good bowling spell and picking up a wicket, but his local teammate Henry Pissasale was not to be outdone, going on to take two wickets himself.
Unfortunately, the Under-13s MVCA fell short in that first match-up only making 140 of the total they were chasing of 231.
Final scores: MVCA 4/126 lost to GMC 4/231.
In the second game, their final game after their first scheduled game was abandoned due to weather, they took on Seymour District at Strathfieldsaye.
MVCA won the toss and elected to bowl first.
The MVCA side got off to a pretty good start, taking wickets early and sending batsmen back to the sheds cheaply.
Beyond a top score from Jaidyn Dimech of 60, after coming in at number six, the MVCA bowled and fielded well.
Daniel Burn got another chance to bowl and did so well, he was able to take two wickets off five overs, with a caught and bowled wicket in the match.
The Seymour District team ended up with a total of 164 after being all bowled out.
Being sent out to bat second and with a clear target score, the MVCA side looked like running down Seymour District’s score.
Daniel Burn was a highlight for the team, falling two runs shy of a half century on 48.
Final score: MVCA 10/118 lost to Seymour 10/164.
Under-14s
In the under-14s’ first game, they were pitted against the more than capable Goulburn Murray Cricket on Tuesday in Kyabram.
Going out to field first, the MVCA side tried their hardest to keep the run rate down with some tight bowling and an enthusiasm on the field.
The GMC side eventually went on to make a total of 139 after 40 overs.
Jordan Swann was the only bowler for the MVCA side to take two wickets, he also made an unbeaten 50, retiring after making the score.
Final score: MVCA 10/124 lost to GMC 5/139.
On Wednesday, the MVCA team took on Shepparton in Shepparton.
MVCA won the toss and elected to bat first, setting a decent total of 119, the side got stuck in the second innings, having Shepparton all bowled out for 68.
Final score; MVCA 8/119 def Shepparton 10/68.
Under-15s
MVCA were too good in their game, playing Goulburn Murray Cricket in Tallarook, on Tuesday.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the MVCA team were confident their batters could make a score they could defend.
Which they did, going on to put 166 on the scoreboard in their 45 overs.
Sending out the GMC team to bat second, MVCA couldn’t have started better after sending the opposition opening batsman back off the ground for a duck.
Locals Ted Wren and Fletcher Campion both took part in the match.
Ted was looked to with the ball, eventually taking three wickets for his side off five overs.
Fletcher did not bowl, and his side didn’t require him to bat, having the GMC score chased down and the game over with four wickets in hand.
Final score: GMC 10/129 lost to MVCA 6/166.
In the side’s second game, they played against Seymour District in Avenel on Wednesday.
Winning the toss and electing to bowl first, the Seymour side bowled tightly, not leaking any runs, eventually holding the MVCA side to a total of 101.
Ted Wren had a bowl and took a wicket for his team, unfortunately the total they set just wasn’t enough to hold off their opposition.
Final score: MVCA 10/101 lost to Seymour District 4/102.
Under-16s
The MVCA under-16s were only able to play two of their three scheduled games.
Having their first game on Monday abandoned due to weather, the team squared off with Goulburn Murray Cricket on Wednesday, at Tuesday.
Getting off to a good start, the MVCA side had the runs flowing, one such player getting among the runs was Murphy Stephens who put up 51 runs.
Local cricketer Charlie McCallum contributed to a good performance by the team, chipping in with his one wicket.
Final scores: MVCA 9/173 def GMC 10/139.
In the side's final game on Wednesday against Shepparton, they faced a strong starting total against their opposition.
Shepparton set the tone with a big total of 219 after going out to bat first, finishing their 45 overs with two wickets in hand.
MVCA tried their hardest in the chase, unfortunately falling short after being all bowled out for 137.
The game was played in Barooga.
Under-17s
Like other teams, the MVCA Under-17s had their first game rained out.
In their first actual day of play, the side took on Goulburn Murray Cricket in Tongala on Tuesday.
Losing the toss and being sent out to field first, the MVCA side had to try and keep the Goulburn Murray side to an attainable score.
Hamish Baker from the Rhinos was able to take a pair of wickets from his eight overs bowled, along with a good economy.
The MVCA’s opposition went on to make a more than adequate score of 203, batting out their 45 overs.
Going into bat second, MVCA had a real task on their hand.
Chasing down a big score is often a hard and daunting task.
The MVCA team weren’t able to chase down their opposition total, eventually being all bowled out for 145.
Hamish scored a commendable 22 for his side from down the order in seventh.
Final score: MVCA 10/145 lost to GMC 7/203.