Cricket season is here and our Lachlan Under 14s campaign has begun with the Max Shephard Shield in Dubbo.
Lachlan gained valuable experience and game time with two wins and two losses across the three-day competition, where they played two T20s and two 45 over matches.
They opened the pre-season carnival against Bathurst, going in to bat first and amassing 116.
Eli Heffernan led the way with 62 of 71 with handy contributions from Saxon Guess (10), Jacob Doyle (12) and Max Douglas (9).
Bathurst's start was steady if slow.
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Tim Longhurst took Lachlan's first wicket with the score at 26 and while Lachlan's change bowlers in Max Taylor (1/15 off three) and Heffernan (1/10 off three) took some wickets Bathurst continued with steady partnerships.
With limited preparation Lachlan's 40 extras were costly, giving Bathurst a leg up for the win.
Day 2 came around, the boys needed some energy and a win against Orange - and they got it.
Orange was first to bat and made slow progress in the T20 format.
Lachlan's bowling had improved for the previous day's experience and Jennings had Orange frustrated taking 1/1 off three overs.
Change bowler Max Douglas took 1/15 off three, Ned Glasson 1/16 off three and Heffernan 1/29 to restrain Orang eto 4/91 for their innings.
By contrast, Jack Dunford struck out to make 37 off 37 including six fours and Heffernan 47 n/o off 42 including eight fours, and Macauley Packham joined him to pass Orange's total in the 14th over.
But Lachlan then came up against a much stronger Lake Macquarie / Newcastle team whose bowlers delivered good consistent line and length on a pitch that was doing a little bit.
Lachlan was 3/8 before Jack Dunford (12) and Max Taylor (12) helped steady the innings somewhat. A very handy 9 from Doyle helped Lachlan to 57 all out, disappointingly with two-and-a-half overs left.
Taking a Lake Macquarie wicket to have them at 1/1 in the first over lifted the Lachlan boys' spirits but the undefeated Lake Macquarie side passed our total with 10 overs remaining.
Taylor (1/5 off one) and Douglas (1/18 off two) took late wickets.
Lachlan wrapped up the carnival with a 45-over game against the Western girls U16s and started the game with a great batting performance.
Guess (19) and Dunford (10) got Lachlan off and running before Heffernan (10) continued a good strike rate which was pushed along by Albert who struck two fours and a six to make 25 off 21 balls.
The tail end of the Lachlan batting line-up was outstanding in this game.
Douglas (16 off 46) made sure the Western girls didn’t get on top before Longurst (11), Taylor (8) and an outstanding 28 from 32 for Packham including five fours and Jennings (6) got Lachlan to a very imposing 164 all out in the 38th over.
This was the batting innings the Lachlan coaches had been waiting for.
Lachlan was on a roll and the bowlers looked determined to continue it with Jennings taking three wickets in the first over for figures of 3/13 off four.
Doyle chipped in with some tight, handy bowling for 1/3 off four overs in a great left arm bowling spell before Longhurst (1/8 off four) and Albert with some juicy flighted leg spin (3/2 off three) demolished the Western middle order.
Packham took 1/0 off four balls to see Western dismissed for 29 in the 16th over.
All in all a good hit-out for the team, who play in the Western region competition against Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst and Mudgee through the season.
Heffernan's batting was a highlight of the Shield campaign but everyone contributed and go home stronger cricketers.
The Shield is a great opportunity to get some high level competition early in the season.
Lachlan trials for all age groups have been held, with squads to be announced in coming weeks.
LACHLAN UNDER 14S: Eli Heffernan (Condo), Ari Albert (Parkes), Alfie Rosser (Parkes), Jack Dunford (Parkes), Jacob Doyle (Condo), Lochie Jennings (Parkes), Max Douglas (Forbes), Max Taylor (Grenfell / west wyalong), Ned Glasson (Forbes), Tim Longhurst (Parkes), Saxon Guess (Parkes), Macauley Packham (Condo).
Local cricket registrations in Forbes, Parkes, Cowra, Condobolin, West Wyalong and Grenfell all still open through Play HQ, just selection your local association - Forbes Junior Cricket.
