Thirty-three Kyabram, Tongala and Kyabram Fire Brigade junior cricketers are involved with eight Goulburn Murray Cricket teams contesting the three qualifying rounds of Country Week cricket this week.
Tongala teenager Hudson Kellett, who is playing under age cricket with Moama and A-grade with Tongala in the GMC this season, headlines the representation from the district.
He has a top score of 35 in the GMC top flight this season, but at under-17 level has been dismissed only once in four rounds and is averaging 164 with the bat; having two half-centuries to his credit and retiring unbeaten on all but one occasion.
Two of the teams will also be coached by familiar faces, Travis Johnstone from Tongala and Stanhope’s Daryl Harrison taking charge of the boys’ under-16 and under-15 teams for the January 2-5 tournament.
There are two girls divisions and six boys teams involved in the annual event.
The tournament started on Tuesday (January 2) and teams will be playing for positions in the finals on Friday; with some competitions based on the T20 format and others on the one-day conditions of play.
Goulburn Murray Cricket teams will have to overcome teams from Shepparton, Bendigo, Murray Valley, Seymour, Gisborne and Sunraysia in order to collect the spoils of victory.
The Goulburn Murray junior competitions have this year been supported by Community Bank Tongala and Mathoura, which have entered into a multi-year sponsorship arrangement with the association.
The draws and GMC representatives in this year’s Country Week tournament are:
Under-14 girls
Romsey on Tuesday, Tongala’s Brose Reserve on Wednesday and Bendigo on Thursday are the three venues for the GMC matches against Gisborne teams and Bendigo. In the GMC squad are Lacy Parsons (Kyabram), Sophie McDonald, Georgie Leonard (Fire Brigade).
Under-17 girls
All matches are played under T20 conditions, with the GMC facing Gisborne on Tuesday, at Bendigo, Bendigo at Colbinabbin on Wednesday and Gisborne in the final round at Bendigo on Thursday. In the squad were Mia Elliott, Jasmine Greiner, Penny Mason (Fire Brigade).
Under-17
Windridge Oval at Rochester hosted Tuesday’s opening round match against Murray Valley, with the GMC playing a double-header on Wednesday against Bendigo and Sunraysia. The final round match is on Thursday at Moama, against Shepparton, with Tongala’s Hudson Kellett in the GMC squad.
Under-16
Murray Valley (Tuesday), Shepparton (Wednesday) and Bendigo (Thursday) were the three GMC opponents in the qualifying rounds, with matches played at Nathalia, Cooma and Rushworth. In the GMC squad are Hamish Stewart, Oliver Barnett, Riley Carver (Fire Brigade), Benny Smith, Jessie Johnstone (Tongala), Bill Hipwell, Jim Hipwell (Rochester). Coach: Travis Johnstone (Tongala).
Under-15
Cooma Recreation Reserve hosted the GMC’s opening round match with Shepparton on Tuesday, with the team facing Sunraysia at Bendigo on Wednesday and Seymour, at Colbinabbin, on Thursday.
The final is scheduled for Barooga on Friday. In the GMC team are Mitch Cornwall (Tongala), Oliver Carver. Tim Mawley, Wil Harrison, Archer Backway (Fire Brigade). Coach: Daryl Harrison (Stanhope).
Under-14
Northern Oval hosted the GMC opening round round match against Murray Valley on Tuesday, before the team faced Shepparton at Northern Oval on Wednesday and Bendigo on Thursday, at Bendigo.
The final was scheduled for Nathalia Recreation Reserve on Friday. The GMC squad included Hugo Monnich Vo, Jack Forde (Tongala), Antony De Pasquale, Paddy Westerveld, Charlie Pekin (Fire Brigade).
Under-13
All matches are contested under T20 conditions, with GMC up against Seymour on Tuesday morning and Shepparton in the afternoon at Vibert Reserve. On Wednesday they had a meeting with Murray Valley at Bendigo and then faced Bendigo at Tongala on Thursday.
The final was at Nathalia on Friday. In the GMC squad from Kyabram are Rhys Parsos, Jack Halstead (Kyabram), Max Stockdale, Jonty Feston, Archie Sheppard, Xavier Dodos (Fire Brigade).
Under-12
Goulburn Murray faced both Shepparton teams on the opening two days, at Brose Reserve on Tuesday and Pee Wee Young Oval at Mooroopna on Wednesday. In the final round they face Bendigo at Moama’s Brick Alley on Wednesday. The final is at Finley on Thursday
Representing GMC in the competition are Heath Ogden (Kyabram), Aidan Greiner and Max Gould (Fire Brigade).