Three Macleay junior representative cricket teams will battle it out in front of home crowds this Sunday for the chance to play in the grand final.
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In a stellar display of sporting skill, all the age groups made the semifinals this season.
I believe we are quite capable of making the grand final, they are all good kids who play well together
- Under 12’s coach Danny Powick
After a bit of a shaky start, the Under 12’s side, coached by Danny Powick, finished on top of the ladder and took out the minor premiership.
“At the start of the year we had a lot of new players who hadn't played at this representative level before, we were a little shell shocked, and we lost quite convincingly,” Powick said.
“In our next few games we really found our stride and we ended up finishing the competition on the top of the ladder.
“Everybody chips in and does their part, we play as a team,” he added.
This weekend is sudden death but the stalwart coach believes his team will be able to make the big game.
“I believe we are quite capable of making the grand final, they are all good kids who play well together,” he said.
The Under 14’s team are coached by Ben Paix who managed to get his team through the season with only one loss to their name.
“There is quite a good group of players in the side, the boys at this age group seem to be improving at an exponential rate,” Paix said.
Like the U/12’s, they are looking to make it through the weekend and play in the grand final.
“We have a pretty good chance of making the grand final, we have a good group of players who are maturing into great cricketers,” Paix said.
“Quite a few of the boys have been playing high-level cricket over the Christmas break; there was plenty of cricket happening.
“We are always looking to improve though,” he added.
Rounding out the talented trifecta is the Under 16’s, who only just missed out on the minor premiership.
Coach Jason Woodger spoke to the Argus about the team's chances this Sunday.
The team won’t be taking any of these games lightly; we will have to be at our best to win
- Under 16’s coach Jason Woodger
“As a team, they are playing some good cricket. We nearly got 1 st but ended up in 2 nd on the ladder, runners up to Port Macquarie,” Woodger said.
“We definitely have the ability, our chances are quite good, most of our players are used to high-level cricket, some of have been in past NSW sides and one is even heading to the Australian Championships.
“The team won’t be taking any of these games lightly; we will have to be at our best to win.”
This Sunday the U/12’s will play Manning Striped at Kempsey Golf Club. The U/14’s play the Hastings Sixers at South West Rocks sports ground and the U/16’s will play the Manning Marlins at Jim Stirling oval.
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