Junior Cricket returned from the holiday break on Saturday with mixed results.

The u/12 Thunder team were far from rusty after the break dominating Wellington in a game where all players showed that their holiday games of cricket in the backyard had fine tuned their skills.

Winning the toss and batting first, Wellington were restricted to 108 runs by some good bowling by the Thunder team.

The best of the bowlers was Alex Cosier with 3 wickets for 8 runs from his 3 overs, with Evie Peart, Cooper and Isaac Baker each bagging 2 wickets.

In reply, the Thunder batters excelled. Thunder scored an impressive 6 wickets down for 166 runs. Top scorer was Alex Cosier with 17 closely followed by little brother Mitch with 16 runs.

All players scored runs and it was great all round batting effort by the Thunder team. 

The u/12 Lightning team played Dubbo Rugby. Winning the toss, Lightning elected to bat and opener Oscar Medd paved the way with some impressive hitting to eventually top score with 17 runs.

The team compiled a competitive total of 103 from their 20 overs. In reply, Dubbo Rugby toiled hard against some good Lightning bowling to come out eventual winners in a super close game by 3 runs.

The Lightning players really applied the pressure in defending their total of 103, but unfortunately it wasn't to be this time.

The best of the lightning bowlers was Sam Tobin with 3 wickets for 8 runs from his 3 overs. The McIssac brothers chimed in with one wicket each.

The competition leaders the u/12 Storm played secord placed South Dubbo Finners in a match fitting of a top of the table clash. South Dubbo won the toss and sent the Storm in bat.

The Storm batted well and compiled a defendable total of 124 run from their 20 over. Another good all round team batting effort with every player contributing.

Jock Mills was again the top scorer with 13 runs followed by Darcy Walker with 11 runs. Against the second placed South Dubbo Team, 124 runs was going need the Storm players to bowl and field well, which they did taking the game to the wire.

Unfortunately for the Storm, South Dubbo were able to just win scoring 132 runs from their 20 Overs. In what is shaping up a likely semi final clash later in the year, the Storm players can hold their heads high knowing a win against the fancied South Dubbo team is within reach.

The win sees South Dubbo leap Storm in 1st place on the ladder but the Storm remain in second place. The best of the Storm bowlers were Jake Fordham 2 wickets for 8 runs and Jacqualine Hutchinson with 2 wickets for 16 runs.

In another exciting game for the 14's, the Gilgandra team played Dubbo Cyms. Winning the toss and electing to bat, Cyms set about compiling a very solid total of 4 wickets for 161 runs.

The best of the Gilgandra bowlers was Harry Tobin with 3 wickets for 15 runs. The target was set at 162, it was going to take some exceptional batting to win.

After loosing early wickets, Lachlan Henry steadied the ship scoring 18 runs but when Lochie fell there was a steady stream of wickets.

Enter Harry Tobin and Jack page, both boys battered brilliantly to take the game deep into the final overs. With only 6 runs needed and with 1 wicket in hand the game was evenly poised.

Harry and Jack looked like they had the game in control until a terrific catch on the boundary by young Archie Aird, son of former Gilgandra resident Jono Aird dismissed Harry for 28 runs just short of the total required.

It was again a great team effort and the team can be very proud of their efforts. Jack Page was a stand out with the bat, batting beautifully for 42 runs not out.

Both Jack and Harry's innings has seen them become equal second place in the Dubbo competitions most runs scored. It was another great weekend of cricket for the all the junior cricketers.

Round 10 Games - 5 February 2022

14B vs Narromine at McGrane Oval, Gilgandra

12B Thunder vs Storm at Ernie Knight, Gilgandra (subject to change)

12B Lightning vs South Dubbo Pink Hornets at Lady Cutler Oval Dubbo (South B)