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AN impressive total of 12 Bathurst players have been selected across both the under 12s and 14s Mitchell Cricket Council representative sides to contest the Inter Council series next month.
The two teams are dominated by both Bathurst and Orange talent, who together make up all but two of the 26 available spots across both teams.
The Bathurst boys given the opportunity in the under 12s squad are Liam Cooke, Hamish Siegert, Hugh McIntyre, Tom Lynch and Cooper Brien.
There’s big shoes to fill for the under 12s who will be out to match the undefeated efforts of last season’s Mitchell side in the age group. They will be up against the new combined.
In the under 14s team, Bathurst talent accounts for seven of the 13 positions in the squad.
Nick Broes, Ethan Cusick, Sam Hall, Ben Cant, Ben Mitchell, Ryan Campbell and Brendan Pallier will be out to show what Bathurst’s best juniors can produce, with plenty already having tried their hand at this level of cricket before.
Like the under 12s side, only one non-Bathurst or Orange player made the cut, this time Lithgow’s Lachlan Wilson.
Bathurst District Junior Cricket Association president Richard Newell was happy to see a strong representation from the city.
“There’s lot of good young cricketers in here, not just from Bathurst, but all of the region ... I think the Bathurst numbers are an indicator of the progress we’ve made with our winter training programs,” he said.
“There will be some serious games to come for them, but hopefully they can still enjoy themselves.”
It’s a big test for the under 12s team who all get their first taste of Mitchell representative cricket with the series against the new combined Macquarie-Lachlan Valley Council team.
Combining the macquarie and Lachlan sides means fewer matches will be played, though it is hoped the amalgamated squad will prove stronger opponents for Western Zone.
“It’s unfortunate that we’ve only got the two games, but that’s the way it’s turned out. We’re lucky to have the home and away fixture ... Normally when you go up a grade of cricket you would hope to be getting more games against the tougher opposition,” Newell said.
“The under 12s will be nervous before that first game then they’ll come back ready for the second, but that’s it. It’s a shame.”
The amount of Bathurst talent making the cut is unsurprising in the under 14s given their undefeated start to the season with wins over Blue Mountains-Lithgow, Mudgee and Orange.
Like their fellow representative side, the under 14s enjoyed a dominant last season, with just a single loss to their name.
“There’s probably even more kids from Bathurst unlucky not to be a part of the team. The under 14s Bathurst team have been the strongest, more than our 12s and 16s this season,” Newell said.
“They’ve had a challenge there from Orange and fought back against them really well.”