RIVERINA may have missed finals at the Bradman Cup under 16s country championships, but Leeton's only participant came away with plenty of experience playing at the higher level.

Hugh Collins, who at 14 is bottom age for the competition, played all three games for Riverina and contributed at some level in all of them.

Riverina won one game and finished bottom of pool two on net run rate, but was a chance to progress to finals until a heavy loss in its last game against Illawarra.

The first game was the side's only victory, posting an eight-wicket win over Central Coast.

Batting first, Central Coast made an imposing 7-171 off its 50 overs. Despite being 1-19 early, half-centuries to Ben Lloyd (55no), captain Harry Perryman (53) and Jack Harper (50no) ensured Riverina got the choccies with three overs to spare.

Hugh wasn't required to bat or bowl in this game.

In game two against North Coastal the side went down by 21 runs.

North Coastal batted first and was bowled out for 146 in the 43rd over. Hugh took 1-12 off three overs.

Riverina was bowled out for 125 in the 41st over. Hugh failed to score and it was the tail that got the side close to the line as the bottom three added 73 runs.

The final game of the championships for Riverina was against Illawarra and it produced the side's worst batting performance.

Only two batsmen reached double figures with Jack posting 13 and Hugh coming in at nine and making 11.

Riverina was rolled for 63 and Illawarra went past the total just one wicket down.

The Bradman Cup final wa splayed between North Coastal and Southern, which recorded a 10-wicket win.

HUGH Collins, batting in the weekend's club cricket against Phantoms at Mark Taylor Oval.