Maitland junior cricketers stood tall to win six of eight matches on a record breaking weekend.
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From under-11 through to under-16 the city’s young cricketers answered the call as a clash in IDCA and Hunter Valley Junior Cricket Council scheduling forced Maitland to field a record eight teams in games on Sunday.
The biggest effort came from the under-11 representative team which filled in for the under-12s in the HVJCC grand final.
The boys were called up when the regular under-12 team received late notice of an IDCA fixture after they had initially been scheduled to have a bye.
Facing probably the biggest jump in competition the under-11s acquitted themselves with distinction despite going down by 125 runs to Cessnock at Coronation Oval.
Cessnock posted 6/157 but the Maitland boys gained some valuable experience before heading to Newcastle next month for the Ron Arendts Memorial Carnival where they will be playing against some of the best U11s cricketers in the state.
Jack Sullivan had a great game picking up two wickets and top scoring with 12 in Maitland’t total of 43. Tyrese Flood, Ben Hindle and Peter McCloskey picked up a wicket each.
A full-strength Maitland under-14 team won the HVJCC title by seven wickets against the Upper Hunter.
It was a complete team effort by the Maitland side who dismissed their opponents for 88 and then made 3/89 in reply.
The main wicket takers were Noah Fisher with 3-14, Joe Hancock (2-5) and James Green (2-8).
A good opening partnership of 23 runs had the home team well placed, but the loss of three quick wickets had Upper Hunter back in the game.
Tom Lovegrove played a mature innings to steer Maitland home. He finished on 28 no with great support from Lucas Hickling 10 no as they passed the total in the 26th over.
The under-16 Hunter Valley grand final between Maitland and a combined Cessnock and Upper Hunter team was washed out and will be rescheduled.
Maitland had an outstanding start to the IDCA competition winning in all division except under-14s in which a fill-in team acquitted themselves with distinction to push Manly Warringah at East Maitland Park.
Bowen Small, Wil Kennedy, Harrison Johnstone, Rees Gibson, Jacob Tudball, Sam Lantry, Jett Lee, Jayden O'Connor, Ryan Golledge, Jack Adams, and Khynan Butler all had their first runs in the competition.
Manly were in a dominant position with an opening stand of 98, but in a terrific effort led by spinner Rees Gibson, who claimed 5-14, Maitland dismissed their Sydney rivals for 154.
Bowen Small (32) and Jett Lee (21) top scored in Maitland’s innings of 110.
Maitland’s Under-12 IDCA team got off to a strong start in the field bowling out visiting side Wenty Leagues for 89.
Thomas Long, Sam Holz and Jet Saxby being the chief destroyers but they were well supported by the rest of the bowling attack.
Openers Murray Woodfield and Hayden Lucas set about chasing the target and put on 45 for the first wicket before Woodfield was dismissed for 16.
Lucas stuck to the task and finished on 31 not out joined by Jet Saxby (13no) as Maitland reached their target with 15 overs to spare.
Maitland under 13’s IDCA team cruised to a comprehensive win on the road against NSW Hurricanes.
The bowlers got them off to a fine start restricting the Hurricanes to 113 with Izaac Coyle and Oscar Walker picking up three wickets each and Lachlan McIntyre two.
Openers Harry Scowen and Isaac Edwards rammed home Maitland’s advantage reaching the target with 20 overs to spare.
Scowen finished with 51 and Edwards 50 in the team’s total of 0/114.
The under-15 IDCA team also started the season with a comprehensive victory against a Wentworthville Leagues club team that was thrown together at the last minute to fill the bye.
The Wentworthville team tried hard and will be better for the outing.
Lachlan Page top scored with 33, Toby Warner made 24 and Daniel Harden 21 as Maitland posted 6-178 batting first at Bill Bobbins Oval
The Wentworthville batting line up was no match for Maitland and were all out for just 34 runs,
Baylee Borrow was the pick of the bowlers with 4-2 off 10 overs, including eight maidens, Nic Bourke next best picking up two wickets.
Max Farmer had a tremendous match behind the stumps claiming five wickets including four catches and a stumping. He also had a run-out assist.
The under-16 IDCA, which featured stand-in roles by Eian Harris, Tom Page, Hudson Smith, Sam Peacock and Jayden Newson, got off to a winning start at Penrith
After losing the toss and being sent in Maitland managed a respectable 169, bowled out just a couple of overs short of their allotted 50 overs.
Best with the bat were Ben Crebert who made 35 and Dusty Callaghan 34.
Maitland’s fielders proved the adage “catches win matches” true once again. They took everything presented in the air including several sharp chances to dismiss the home side for just 68.
Best with the ball were Alex Lidbury with 3-11 and Ben Crebert (2-9), Jayden Newson (2-12) and Lachlan Scott (2-17) who picked up a brace of wickets each..
Maitland’s IDCA campaign continues on Sunday with the under-13 and under-16 teams at home at under-12, 14 and 15s away.