Joeys excel in Bendigo’s run at cricket champs

KANGAROO Flat young guns Raff Gallagher, Lachlan McKay and Clayton Smith earned Most Valuable Player awards in the Bendigo DCA’s grand final victories at Northern Rivers Junior Country Cricket Week.

Heavy rain on day two forced under-16 matches at Marist College Bendigo, and Cooma to be abandoned.

Unbeaten in two of three preliminary round matches, Bendigo took on Cricket Shepparton in a one-day final at Berrigan.

Bendigo scored 9-173 off 45 overs as Miller Armstrong scored 40 not out and Oliver McKenzie and Oscar Cail added 23 and 22 runs.

Shepparton scored 9-173 off 45 overs against an attack led by Clayton Smith with 3-24 and Hugh Behrens who had 2-22.

Bendigo’s under-16 team in the grand final included Jack Burns, Louis Eddy, Xavier Grant, Kobey Hunter, Angus O’Brien, Harry Purcell and Taj Taylor.

The under-14 title went Bendigo’s way after a 60-run victory against Murray Valley on oval one at Nathalia Showgrounds.

Batting at three, Lachlan McKay scored 55 off 61 deliveries as Elliott Ryan chipped in with 26 in Bendigo’s tally of 8-163 off 40 overs.

The attack was led by William Donnelly with 3-0, Connor Berry on 2-6; and Jonty Cavalier at 2-6, as Shepparton was dismissed for 103 in the 34th over.

Also in action for Bendigo DCA were Paddy Carmody, Astin Clayton, Jaxon Kelly, Charlie Macumber, Tyson Sherwell, Xavier Stone, and Jamieson Webster.

At under-13 level, Bendigo played CBT&M GMC on oval two at Nathalia Showgrounds.

Bendigo scored 6-85 in the Twenty20 match as Raff Gallagher hit 23 off 41 deliveries batting at number three.

After an unbeaten 11, Zac Cavalier took 2-17 as Bendigo dismissed the opposition for 63 in the 17th over.

Also in the premiership team were Josh Bellenger, Jack Hargreaves, Hamish Kelly, Archer Lethlean, Jimmy Liersch, Angus McIntosh, Jed Monaghan, Miller Polglase, Louis Travaglia and Lucas Zylan.