Dubbo duo Marty Jeffrey and Ben Patterson have played a huge amount of cricket despite their young ages but getting the chance to take part in the National Indigenous Cricket Championships has been described as a "special" experience.
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The pair were part of the NSW side which was defeated by Victoria in Monday night's final at Alice Springs.
"It's a fairly unique competition with the culture and the way its run and you can see it means a lot to a lot of people," Jeffrey said.
To come up and represent your family, your mob and your community is really good.
- Marty Jeffrey
"To come up here and experience that stuff as a young person, it shows how strong our culture is.
"To come up and represent your family, your mob and your community is really good."
Jeffrey and Patterson were part of the side which won last year's title but both failed to produce standout individual performances this time out.
Patterson produced him best performance in Monday's final, taking two early wickets in a fiery spell with the new ball before banging a late 20 to almost get his side across the line. But it wasn't to be as Victoria won by 18 runs.
"We always set ourselves up to get into the final and we did what we wanted to, finishing first and getting straight through to that final," Jeffrey said.
"I preparation went to plan but our execution didn't.
"The fielding was probably the worst it had been all carnival and you can't expect to wi when you're dropping catches and missing runouts."
Jeffrey stated the standard of play at Alice Springs was much higher this season, largely due to the fact a national side was chosen to tour England the end of the carnival.
NSW lost to Victoria on day two of the carnival but otherwise enjoyed a perfect run in the preliminary rounds and finished clear at the top of the ladder.
The Victorians were again the opponents in the decider but the Blues, in particular Patterson, began brilliantly as their foes were reduced to 3/25 early on.
But a brilliant fighting 114 from Clayton McCartney led Victoria to a competitive 8/228 from 50 overs.
Patterson finished with 2/47 from 10 overs while the Championships’ leading wicket-taker Ben Mitchell took 2/40 from 10. Jeffrey’s leg-spin wasn’t used, as he finished his carnival with three wickets to his name.
New South Wales made steady progress but lost wickets at regular intervals and when Jeffrey was trapped in front his side was in real trouble at 6-139.
Patterson blasted 20 late on but no one could stay with captain and standout Nathan Price (78) as the Blues fell just short.
“We both probably didn’t play as well as we could or would have liked but we did our bit when we could,” Jeffrey said of her and Patterson.
“Patto’ showed what he could do in the final and bowled probably the fastest I’ve ever seen him bowl and the fastest of the carnival and then whacked a few and gave us a glimpse of winning.”
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
