The character shown by a team of Dubbo youngsters was the highlight for coach Greg Rummans during this week’s Western NSW Under 13 Cricket Carnival.
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Rummans’ Dubbo side finished the tournament at Orange with two wins and two losses.
While the coach was left slightly frustrated his team missed out in a winnable game on day three, he couldn’t have been more proud of the attitude shown by his young players.
“We spoke before (the carnival) about the moments of character,” he said.
“That didn’t necessarily mean taking five wickets or scoring a hundred but when the team needed it, getting up and doing something cool. And we did that.”
With teams from all over the state competing and stars of the future no doubt on show, the standard all week was of the highest quality.
In a rain affected opening round, which led to a ground change, Dubbo scored a four wicket win over the North West Sydney Hurricanes.
That was followed up by a thoroughly impressive 29-run win over Mosman Whales, a game featuring a number of stellar individual displays.
“Anthony Atlee scored 55 and James Glasson got 41 and then at the end I gave a bat to some of the boys who missed out on day one and Dudley Shepherd and Gus Rose put on 46 runs.
“Our opening bowlers bowled really well and then Ted Murray, his first five overs were maidens and he had 2/0. He finished with 3/10 from eight overs but there was great catching and good fielding, we got a direct hit runout.
“If someone didn’t get any runs then they fielded well or bowled well. It was a day when you got back to your room and couldn’t think of anyone who had a bad game.”
Dubbo had thier chances on day three but fell 27 runs short against an ACT Emerging under 13s side before the competition was rounded out with a seven-wicket loss to a smart Shoalhaven side.
“I was proud of all of them. They were a great bunch of kids and never gave up,” Rummans said.
Even in the last day when we needed seven wickets against Shoalhaven, a really good side, they were still talking and they all had a good time and played to the very last ball.”
While there was strong efforts all round, senior players like Atlee, Dudley Shepherd, Josh Bywater and Rudy Peet all starred.
But another player to be singled out by Rummans was Jack Byrne.
Byrne originally went as a third choice wicketkeeper while number one Hugh Sinkiewicz was unavailable for the carnival.
Rummans’ stated Byrnes ability to learn was “fantastic” and his finished the week as the undoubted number one keeper.
Rummans also praised the Orange association for ensuring all matches went ahead, despite the rain.
“It was a fantastic, well-run carnival,” he said.
“It was really good for them (players) to see where they’re at and I think a lot of learning went on.”