scone.com.auLevel Field for Country Kids
YESTERDAY the local Central North under 16’s cricket team bowled out North Sydney for 161 at the Bill Rose Complex, Scone.
The game was one of the first of many designed to bridge the divide between the Green Shield city based competition and the Bradman Cup country based competition and the first year country boys will be able to play in the Green Shield.
Game results:
Lachlan Cheshire, from Scone, playing for Central North.
One of the first wickets was taken by Scone’s own Lachlan Cheshire who took 2 for 18 from 7 overs.
Conrad George from Tamworth played well taking 5 for 21 from 8 overs.
Central North 16’s scored the runs in the 41st overs after an excellent innings by Will Fort from Maitland who retired at 67.
Others to score well were Matt Lynch from Maitland who retired for 36, Lachlan Barton from Tamworth retired for 19 and Kieran Dennis from Armidale scored 13 opening the innings.
New Approach to Country – City Cricket:
Rod Bryant, coach of the Central North cricket team said this was the first year the country boys are able to play in the Green Shield and the local team was performing well in matches against city teams.
“The boys are from Scone, Muswellbrook, Maitland, Tamworth, Moree, Armidale and Gunnedah and we are playing lots of trial matches before the season even starts so that they get to that level of competition; some of our boys are up to their seventh game of the season, before the season even starts,” said Mr Bryant.
Central North played North Sydney at the Bill Rose Complex.
“The country and city teams are playing more matches, the city kids have that ability to be able to train two days a week with good coaches, our guys come more together every second weekend for a full day because of the tyranny of travel, but they are very keen and they are all here today from everywhere,” he said.
“We have the academy, then development squads and we have satellite coaches within the towns to develop our players, but the only black spot we have at the moment is around Muswellbrook and Scone where we are looking for a coach to get those kids in squads together, not just the under 16’s but across the other ages too,” he said.
“Identifying talented kids is not just about skills, some kids pick up a game sense and that ability to read the game is a big advantage for a cricketer and also their temperament goes a long way; if you’ve got good character where they are prepared to do the hard work and they recognise what is an injury and what is soreness,” Rod Bryant said.
Travis McKenna, coach of the North Sydney team said there were advantages for his team to play against the country teams.
“All of the guys in the rep teams all know each other, so to come and play against people they don’t know it’s good to put them in unfamiliar territory to get more out of them cricket wise,” said Mr McKenna.
“It’s also nice to get the lads together as we are trying to build a squad; we came up last night together and it’s nice to get out of the city,” he said.
“Bridging the divide will be good for all of the teams and ensure players with ability, no matter where they come from are developed,” Travis McKenna said.