Adam Gilchrist, Steve Smith, Josh Hazelwood, Phillip Hughes and now Brock Larance.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Dubbo College teenager scored another honour in his immensely exciting career on Thursday when being named player of the tournament at the NSW Combined High Schools Cricket (CHS) Championship.
Some of the state’s greatest players have starred at the tournament and Larance’s name is now alongside them after he starred with both bat and ball for Western at Barooga, on the Victorian border.
Making the achievement all the more special is the fact he is the first Western player to receive the honour.
While his side had to settle for fifth place after two wins and two draws at the state titles, Larance was a standout and his century on day three of the carnival the undoubted highlight.
The talented CYMS all-rounder, and Australian under 16s representative, made 133 against North Coast to help set up his side’s first win after losses on Monday and Tuesday.
He had earlier taken 3-22 and smashed 61 against Hunter and he finished with a carnival-best 233 runs, leaving teammates in awe.
“He’s a freak, there isn’t really any other way to describe him,” Orange’s Western player Harry Pearce said.
“His half century was off about 30 balls, and he’s not doing anything silly it’s just the way he bats. The ton was just incredible too.”
He’s a freak, there isn’t really any other way to describe him.
- Harry Pearce on Brock Larance
As well as being named player of the tournament, Larance also scored the honour of selection in the NSW CHS First XI.
Larance, who is currently in year 10, wasn’t the only Dubbo College player at the tournament with Ben Wheeler also featuring in Western’s top order at Barooga.
It continues an incredible season for Larance, which started with selection in the national team which was coached by former Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris.
At Barooga, Larance and his Western side, coached by former South Dubbo and Western Zone all-rounder Tim Berry, was beaten by two wickets on the first day after North West successfully chased down the red and greens’ 152 with two wickets in hand.
On day two Hunter made 6-211, Western ultimately fell 56 runs short at 155.
The side opened its account on day three on the back of Larance’s ton, making 287 before skittling North Coast for just 70. Western went on to trump Sydney East in the fifth-place play-off on day four, winning by six wickets.
“Fifth was pretty good, it would’ve been easy for us to drop our heads after the first loss but we didn’t,” Pearce said.
“We were pretty close against Hunter, a few little things cost us. A couple of dropped catches and that sort of thing cost a few runs, which hurt. The last two days were good though.
“We were right up there, even with such a young side.”
Mudgee’s Lochie Endacott, who plays in Dubbo with CYMS also, was one of three Western players rewarded with selection in NSWCHS’ under 15s for next month’s All Schools trials.
The other two selected were talented Orange juniors Blake Weymouth and Hugh Middleton.