The under-18 side featuring Karramomus’s Zavier Davidson, Shepparton Youth Club United’s Rayyan Mirza, and Central Park St Brendan’s Alex Robertson made amends for last week’s first-up defeat to Mallee Murray with a confident five-wicket triumph over Central Highlands.
Robertson and Mirza picked up important wickets as the Rivers, despite offering 56 extras, bundled out the Highlanders for 175 runs.
BDCA pair Xavier Grant (45) and Hugh Behrens’ (50) 97-run opening stand ensured Rivers were never headed in the run chase, passing the Highlanders in the 34th over for their first win of the series.
The under-21s couldn't match their younger teammates' success, despite coming off a comprehensive nine-wicket victory the previous week.
The Rivers watched as the Barwon Rockets compiled 9-218 from their 50 overs, with former Cricket Shepparton young gun Keiran Hogeboom in the wickets with 3-24 off his 10 overs.
At 2-21 early in the run chase, former Pine Lodge-turned Old Students bat Emile Haratbar (37) and powerful SYCU hitter Tyler Green, top-scoring with 46, came together for a third-wicket partnership of 82.
A collapse of 8-45 undid their good work, however, with the Rivers falling 70 runs short.
In the first round of Country Cup ties, the under-16s were dominant in Swan Hill, bundling Mallee Murray Suns out for 101 on the back of 3-15 from Central Park’s Edison Waghorn.
Clubmate Gus Byrne’s 31 not out at the top of the order then helped the Rivers past that total in a nine-wicket canter.
An even bowling performance from the under-15 girls ensured a winning double for the day, successfully defending 125 against the Suns.
Meanwhile, Nagambie pair Kayla Shepherd and Madi Albers are taking their talents to the national stage.
After a successful Northern Rivers campaign, the duo has been named for Victoria for the upcoming Australian Country Cricket Championships in South Australia’s Barossa Valley from January 2-10.
Rivers captain Albers will don the navy blue once again after clinching championship glory with Victoria Country earlier this year, while Shepherd will come in with some fine form with the willow under the belt.
