Sport

Shepparton Youth Club United stack runs in formidable innings with the willow

By Callum Farquhar

Nov 1, 2026

SYCU's Steven Tate aims to clear the rope. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Shepparton Youth Club United said SYCU later to the Kookaburra on Saturday at Princess Park.

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Thirty-seven boundaries were smoked to the fence in a clinical innings with the willow by SYCU, as import George Geaves and club games record holder Steven Tate did the damage as United hunt its first win of the season against Numurkah.

Things didn’t begin as planned though after the home side won the toss and elected to bat, with a mix-up seeing opener Oliver Swain run out for one run to boost the Blues’ bowling hopes, United 1-2 after the opening four overs.

However, first drop Joe Hammond would mark middle at the crease and survive a significant stint with Sam Nash, the pair producing a 45-run partnership to avoid an early stutter with the stick.

After digging deep to keep his wicket, Nash had made a deliberately paced 30 off 78 balls before he looked to start swinging, however an ill-timed cut shot saw him chop the ball into the stumps, Eash Aravinthan removing the SYCU skipper.

Numurkah’s equal-best wicket-taker for the match Kyren Dawson (3-87) spun his way into pole-taking territory, forcing a false shot from Tyler Green (12) and Hammond (36) to secure the Blues’ next two scalps, while Blues coach Raguvaran Aravinthan dismissed Shobhit Sabharwal (19).

However, there was a man at the crease already starting to stamp his authority, and Sabharwal’s walk back to the pavilion saw another threat enter the arena.

Geaves (80 runs) and Tate (77) produced a 95-run partnership that skyrocketed SYCU’s winning odds, as the Blues had no answers for the super sloggers.

While Geaves’ wicket ended the unbeaten stand the pair made, Tate would survive until the 10th wicket, walloping Matt Cline for a maximum four balls before his innings concluded, SYCU bowled out for 261 with a tick more than an over left to bat.

“It was a massive partnership from them (Geaves and Tate),” Sam Nash said.

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SYCU's Steven Taite blocks out the ball as Numurkah's Dylan Grandell lurks. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Numurkah's Matt Cline flings the Kookaburra back from the boundary. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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SYCU's Steven Taite hustles between creases. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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SYCU's Steven Taite aims to clear the rope. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Numurkah's Alex Robertson puts pressure on in the field. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Numurkah's Kyren Dawson thinks of his next delivery. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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SYCU's George Geaves swings for the fences. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Numurkah's Raguvaran Aravinthan rips one down the pitch. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

“George’s ability to anchor the innings just before tea was exceptional, and it’s really promising signs for him and for us in what was his first two-day match overseas, so we’re excited by what he can contribute for the rest of the season.

“Tate obviously is an experienced head, and he really took the game away from Numurkah, we could’ve fallen in a heap after tea but he batted on through the tail to set us up with a good total.

“We aimed to bat the full 80 overs as that’s something we hadn’t done as well in the one day games.

“It was a well-fought innings I thought.”

The target puts Numurkah on the ropes for day two, United in a prime position to score its first victory of the summer.

However, Nash knows SYCU can’t just expect Numurkah to roll over next Saturday.

“We’ll have to bowl well for the full 80 overs, Princess Park is always a greater batting deck, so we’ll have to bowl tight and consistent and take our chances with the new ball,” he said.

“It definitely won’t be easy, they’ve got some great experienced players that will be up for the fight.”