Western coach Jordan Moran admitted his side’s NSW Primary School Sports Association campaign at Orange last week was somewhat disappointing, but the Dubbo-based mentor did find several positives to take from the four-day tournament as well.
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Although Western managed to win just one of its four games – that lone victory coming against North West on day three – Moran said his biggest hope is that his troops will take the experience gained back to their clubs and competitions.
“I hope they were able to learn something from me and from the games we played,” he said.
“The standard of cricket at this type of carnival is a little bit higher than what the boys are used to and it surprised them a bit I think, so if they can take what they’ve learned back it could definitely help lift that standard of club cricket and hopefully help them to continue to improve as well.”
Western fell to Hunter on day one by nine wickets then to Sydney North on day two, by seven wickets.
Moran’s troops scored a tight victory on day three, winning by two wickets on the back of Parkes duo Hunter Hawke and Ryan Dunford’s strong showings, before missing out on the fourth and final day against Sydney South West.
“We threw a win away in that last game a little bit, it was a touch disappointing but that’s cricket,” Moran said, Western was in a great spot at 2-51 chasing 106 before losing 8-27.
“When we were two down for 50-odd I was really hopeful of jagging that win but we collapsed. It’s a pity, that win would’ve pushed us up into the middle of the pack but I think we’ll probably end up ranked 11th or 12th.
“That will impact next year, we’ll probably play whichever side finished eighth of ninth on the first day.”
Hawke and Dunford were Western’s best with the bat, averaging 39.5 and 33 respectively.
Dunford was also, statistically, the best with the ball but Moran highlighted Condoblin’s Riley Keen as one who impressed.
“I’d say Riley was our best bowler, he did a really good job,” Moran said.
“Ryan and Hunter did well too, and everyone contributed at some stage along the way but no one really stood up and made a name for themselves, not consistently anyway, and I think that was our issue, we weren’t consistent.
“But the boys’ effort was great, I can’t fault that. A big thing for us is the fact we only trained together once, because of the distance our region covers.
“You know, the Sydney teams are training together every week and playing together too.”
