Angus back from rep duty

THE Riverina under 14s team finished third in its pool and missed out on a finals spot at the Kookaburra Cup state championships played last week at Newcastle.

All-rounder Angus Boulton was the only Leeton player to be included in the Riverina squad, which also included Murrumbidgee Cricket Council representatives Rupert Lilburne (Hay) and Isaac Campbell (Griffith).

Riverina finished the championships with one win from three games.

The team opened its campaign against eventual grand finalist Western, going down by 33 runs.

Western batted first and made 5-178 off its 50 overs. Angus didn't get a bowl, but Rupert finished with 1-22 off eight overs and Isaac opened the bowling, returning figures of 0-25 off seven and took two catches.

Riverina batted out its overs, but finished on 9-145. Angus batted in the middle order and made 18 before being run out. Isaac did not get to bat and Rupert was bowled for one.

The second game was a big win for Riverina, thumping Illawarra by nine wickets.

Illawarra batted first and was rolled for 37 off 28.3 overs. Angus bowled two overs and took 1-3 with one maiden. Isaac took 1-5 off five, with two maidens.

With such a small total to chase and despite being 1-0 early on, none of the Murrumbidgee players were required to bat as Riverina passed the total one down in the 13th over.

The final game for Riverina was against Central Coast and it produced a disappointing two-run loss.

Central Coast won the toss and batted with Riverina knocking them over for 95 in after 46 overs.

Angus wasn't required to bowl, but Isaac was miserly finishing with 0-10 off four, while Rupert was even tighter with 0-3 off three and one maiden, as well as taking a catch.

However, a constant fall of wickets - the last four falling for five runs - had Riverina dismissed for 93 in the 42nd over.

Angus didn't trouble the scorers, Isaac was caught for one and Rupert caught for six.

North Coastal and Western topped their respective pools at the championships and met in the final. North Coastal had lost one match and Western was undefeated.

However, that changed in the decider after North Coastal made 219 off 50 overs, thanks to a century from Jack Cooper (117). Western chased well with Thomas Nelson making 72 not out, but the innings closed at 9-192 after 50 overs.

It was North Coastal's third Kookaburra Cup win and they now play Georges River St George JCA in the under 14 State Club Challenge at Bradman Oval on February 8 in a Twenty20 format game.