Albany and District Cricket Association’s under-14 A side start country week in style with three wins in a row

Albany and Districts under-14 A side registered three wins in a row as their junior country week campaign started with a bang. It was their first success in three years at this level and the treble puts them in with a super shout of progressing to a grand final. In their first round on Monday, they defeated Bunbury and Districts and then followed it up with a comprehensive thumping of Peel Country later that day. On Tuesday, their victims were Busselton-Margaret River, leaving matches against Wellington and Geraldton to complete the pool. Bunbury and Districts opted to bat in their opening encounter and were put to the sword, managing 8-96 as Patrick House took 3-8 to remove three of their top four. In reply, Hugo Riggall polished off 61 runs in 55 balls enjoying great support from Beau Sobey’s run-a-ball 38. Owen Pretorius, with 13, and House, with 20, were the unbeaten batters who finished off the proceeds and got Albany and Districts to 2-143. Albany and Districts again fielded first when they tackled Peel, restricting them to 7-65 courtesy of a demon spell from Campbell Hare who took 4-8 off four overs. Oskar McSweeney was unbeaten on 35 as they reached 3-105 in their 20 overs. Round three on Tuesday was a 50 over contest against Busselton-Margaret River who reached 8-184. Albany and Districts’ impressive reply of 4-243 included 75 for Pretorius, 67 for Sobey and 46 for McSweeney. The under-14 B side beat Bunbury and Districts in their first game and Mortlock in their second but they came unstuck against West Pilbara in Tuesday’s one-day outing. Bunbury and Districts scored 8-108 with Albany and Districts’ response ending on 3-156 after 20 overs. Robert Fergie and Zephyr Endacott each scored 51 before retiring unbeaten. Put in by Mortlock in round two, ADCA were indebted to Henry King’s unbeaten 45 as they reached 5-163. The Mortlock chase faltered at 4-110, Tom Sheridan contributing to two run-outs. The one-day contest against West Pilbara proved more tricky as Albany and Districts elected to bat but were all out for 158 in 32 overs. Endacott and Fergie were again the top contributors, with 39 and 26 respectively. Jobe Rumble and Kobi Berger took two wickets each as West Pilbara cruised to 5-223 in their 50 overs. The under-14 C squad had an opening-day double against Northam, winning on Monday morning but suffering a loss in the afternoon. Their response of 4-142 topped Northam’s earlier effort of 7-110. In the afternoon rematch, Albany and Districts reached 8-69 which Northam overcame to reach 6-102. Taylor Pieper’s 21 was the best on a disappointing afternoon for ADCA. Things were brighter on Tuesday as the side beat Upper Great Southern in a one-day contest. Uppers were put into bat but only Archie Hogg reached double figures, falling to Hamish King for 10, as his side managed only 8-41. Albany and Districts reached 1-89 in reply, George Downes top-scoring with 24 before retiring unbeaten. The under-16 A side defeated Bunbury and Districts and pipped Peel in their first two outings. Batting first, Leo Cunningham was unbeaten on 61 as ADCA reached 5-161 from 20 overs. The Bunbury and Districts reply ended at 8-128, Xavier Little claiming two victims. Pell batted first in the round two contest, setting ADCA a target of 6-118. Albany and Districts reached 6-119 in 18.2 overs, Sam Osborne’s welcome 51 and Max Robinson’s unbeaten 21 helping them survive some shocks along the way. The one-day contest against Busselton-Margaret River was a tough one, ADCA falling well short. Put in, they were all out for 136 in 41 overs while their opponents roared to 8-275 for a comprehensive win. Only Fraser King made inroads with the ball for Albany and Districts, claiming 3-48 off 7.2 overs. The Albany and Districts under-16 B team were too good for Bunbury and Districts but were outclassed by Esperance on Monday. They also suffered defeat on Tuesday, losing their 50-over contest to the Great Southern. Great Southern posted 7-229 with Thomas Dennis hitting 53 and Theodore Ferns 45. ADCA managed 7-115 in reply, Archer Coghlan carrying his bat for 52. Ladder leaders Albany and Districts 14A were all out for 60 in Wednesday’s one-day match against Wellington, who made 99 in reply as House claimed 3-14. The 14B side were dismissed for 173 by the Upper Great Southern despite Jobe Rumble’s unbeaten 54 and it proved to be a heavy loss as Uppers made 6-235 in reply. The C team made 5-119 in their chase of Wellington’s tally of 5-105, with Lachie Chrisidis top scoring with 24 not out. Albany and Districts’ under-16 A team were fourth on the ladder going into Wednesday’s contest against Wellington and were hunting down their opponents’ 9-139. They made 8-177 in reply as Dash Germinario made a superb 85 from 130 balls. The winless under-16 B side were hoping for better things against Warren Blackwood but were dismissed for 78. However, Warren Blackwood made heavy weather of their innings, reaching 5-79 in reply despite Robson Nielsen claiming four scalps.