MINOR Premiers Uralla are the first team through to the Walcha News Cup cricket grand final after they defeated a depleted Round Swamp outfit at the Uralla Sports Complex last Saturday. Uralla lost one game during the competition against Round Swamp in round four and deserve to be favourites in the decider scheduled for Saturday week. They will play the winners of the preliminary final between Swamp and Colts.
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THE Swampy number crunchers got it slightly wrong on Saturday when somehow opener bowler Luke Wellings sent down 11 overs instead of his maximum of 10. Uralla batsman Nathan Swann probably wasn't all that happy he did because during the 11th over, Luke hit Nathan in the head with a bouncer.
PLAYING three batsmen short coupled with numerous dropped catches certainly didn't help Swamp much. Unfortunately, Lachie Fletcher was unavailable because of an injured ankle, but luckily Cooper Boyd filled in as a substitute fieldsman and did a good job or there would have been even more gaps in the field.
SEMI-final Poultry Farmers: Bob Jex, Justin Gibson, Wayne Boyd, Jemma Johnson, Tommy LeStrande, Josh Wellings, his brother-in-law Ben Cross, Troy Tape and Ossie Kuhr. Three batsmen currently lead the Poultry Farmer of the Year with five ducks each. Tommy LeStrande and Troy Tape play for Colts this Saturday, while Daniel Blanch can't increase his tally because his team Kentucky were eliminated last Saturday.
ROUND Swamp allrounder Ben France backed up his double century a week earlier when he scored a game high 67 in the major semi-final against Uralla last Saturday. Ben's team mates will be hoping he continues his red-hot form into this Saturday's preliminary final against Colts here at the Park.
ON the subject of double tons back in 2004, Walcha Central School cricketer Kyle Goodwin registered a score of 266 not out in an U16 game against North Armidale at Harris Park in Armidale spread over two Saturday mornings. Chasing 108, Walcha were 2/27 when Kyle strode to the crease and by stumps on day one, the tall left-hander was 117 not out.
Walcha Central School will be represented at the North West Secondary School trials next Tuesday
ON day two, Kyle continued the carnage, smashing a further 149 runs where he featured in a 145-run, third-wicket partnership with his skipper Mitchell Sweeney (29) before teaming up with Steve Hams (28) for an unbeaten 170 runs. When Mitch finally called a halt to the slaughter by declaring at 3/342, in search of an outright victory, Kyle had plundered 228 runs in boundaries from 36 fours and 14 sixes.
LITTLE did the North Armidale players know it, but Kyle faintly nicked a ball very early in his innings and, because no opposition players heard it, there was no appeal, which gave the green light for the fun and games to begin.
CONGRATULATIONS to the 14 Walcha Central School students who have been invited to swim at the North West PSSA trials at Armidale next Monday after performing well at the Armidale District Swimming Carnival last Thursday. Jemma Warden has qualified for six individual events along with the senior girls relay.
THREE swimmers - Poppy McLaren, Stephanie Blake and Cody Wellings - have each qualified for three individual events and a relay, while Brock James and Bella Mooney have two individual swims at a relay. Lulu Thomson is in the 4x50m medley and a relay, and Sienna Cooney, Phoebe Fenwicke, Claudia Kirton, Preston Latham and Cameron Mooney are all in relay teams. Emily Blake and Sammy Swain have an individual swim each. Go Walcha!
WELL done to the other 14 WSC primary students who represented the school at the Armidale District Carnival last Thursday and all tried their best. Although you may not have made it to the next level, it was a great effort anyway.
YARROWITCH is off to Armidale next Monday to compete in the Small Schools relay at the North West PSSA trials after finishing third in their division at the Armidale District Carnival. Best of luck to the Weise brothers Lachie and Zane, Zara Lute and Charlee Steep. Go gettum guys.
SIX St Pats students attended the Polding District Swimming Carnival at Moree last Thursday where Jack Healy, Tahlia Bird, Hunter Thornbury, Ella Lynch, Sophie Timbs and Sasha Macarthur Onslow all produced PBs. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to progress to the next level.
WALCHA Central School will be represented at the North West Secondary School trials next Tuesday by Thomas Micallef, Murdoc Chawner, Sarah Morris, Abbey Mackaway, Bella Hayton, Jess Wake, Charlotte Mooney, Tahlia Galvin and Jazmine Lynch. Good luck to all competitors.
LAST week, the Flippers held a handicap day where each swimmer is handicapped depending on their times with a view of each race practically finishing in a dead heat. Let's just say, the handicapper did get it right a few times, especially in the older and faster groups. At the end of the day, the swimming club members were presented with a lovely red and white Flippers towel each.
TRAINEE golf professional Andrew Brennan went within a whisker of shooting a 59 off the stick during a practise round at the Armidale course where he is based last week. A. J. carded an eagle, seven birdies and a par on the front nine to turn at 9 under par, then had 3 under on the back including his only bogey on the 14th. The 2016 Walcha champion still had a chance of the magic 59, only to see his putt on the 18th hole lip out.
