Maitland's junior representative cricketers have had an outstanding season and it looks like the success will continue.
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Maitland teams made four finals and won two titles with the under-16 IDCA team claiming the title in their debut season in the competition and the Hunter Valley under-14 side beating Upper-Hunter in the final.
The under-14 IDCA team went down to the NSW Hurricanes in the final and the under-12 Hunter Valley team lost to Upper Hunter.
But what is even more remarkable is that the many of the Hunter Valley squad members have another year in their age group, with the competition used to groom talented bottom age players against older opponents.
The under-16 Hunter Valley squad which finished third in the competition trouncing Singleton in the third and fourth play-off had 12 members who play in the Maitland under-15 competition.
Among their number were Ben Crebert, Dusty Callaghan, Tallon Gear, Eddie Sutherland, Lachlan Scott, Drew Mulligan, Lachlan Heit, Ethan Stace, Christopher Woodfield, Ryan Wind, Andrew Akerman and Lachlan Scott who also double up in the afternoon playing in third to fifth grades.
Several also earned a run in the Sydney-based IDCA competition, but as a collective a real highlight was thrashing Newcastle’s IDCA team in a trial game leading into the season.
Ben Crebert signalled he was in for a big year scoring 55 not out against Newcastle in a match-winning partnership with Ryan Wind who was unbeaten on 50.
Crebert followed up his fine performance with 54 against Upper Hunter and in the last game was run out off the last ball finishing with 96 off 95 balls.
His selfless team play cost him an amazing average of 88, but he still managed an impressive 58.7.
Wind and Dusty Callaghan were also among the runs with top scores of 30 and 39 respectively in the limited-over competition.
There were plenty of fine bowling performances as well with Tallon Gear finishing with the best figures of 3-19.
The title-winning under-14 Hunter Valley team was also full of bottom-age players with Noah Fisher, Brodie Little, Ryan Furness, Joseph Hancock and Joshua Wells all with at least one more year at under-14s.
There were outstanding performances by the squad leading to victory in the final against Upper Hunter at Scone after they posted 9/94 and dismissed the home side for 33.
Patrick Stewart top scored for Maitland with 28. The bowlers were led by Ethan Bartlett with 4-9 and two wicket-hauls to Stewart (2-1) and Daniel Harden (2-6).
Bartlett finished with the competition with eight wickets at an average of 4.75. He took at least one wicket in each game.
Patrick Stewart took five wickets in his three games at an average of 3.6 with best figures of 3-3 against Singleton in the final round match. Noah Fisher (3-10) and Jay Boyd (3-9) also had three wicket-hauls in the competition.
Daniel Harden topped the batting with 71 runs at an average of 23.7 and a top score of 38 and another score of 32. Stewart averaged 31.5 with a top score of 31 not out.
