Winners are grinners: Cobram took out the under-14 MVCA final.
Photo by
Julie Cameron
A classic under-14 final was played last Sunday at the beautifully presented Tocumwal Recreation Reserve.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Cobram, who won the toss and elected to bat, struggled to get on top of the Tocumwal bowlers early and crawled to 1-28 from 20 overs at the halfway mark.
Some lusty hitting from the injured Jack Iddles and Tigers top run-scorer, Lenny Power, combined with Bodey Webb and Rocco Anastasio knocks would prove vital to the Tiger’s score of 6-84 off 40 overs. However, this score looked a little short for the all-conquering Tocumwal top order batsman to chase.
Anticipation: Cobram’s under-14 side take the traditional pre-grand final photo.
Photo by
Julie Cameron
Defending a small total, the opening Tiger’s bowlers struck early, getting the dangerous Liam Sutton (Eamon Hyde) and Cooper Mangion (Jaxon Webb) out, leaving Tocumwal at 2-9.
Young Tiger tearaway Sam Slatterie started the sixth over into a very stiff breeze, battling through to send another two batsmen back into the pavilion and leaving Tocumwal at 4-9. This score had the young Tigers up and about and believing that they had a chance.
Tocumwal’s opening batsman Reuben Haley had other ideas about this and began to play his shots, moving Tocumwal to 4-45 at the halfway mark. The opener continued to play some lovely shots, before he reached the leagues retirement run score of 40.
Haley’s big performance had Tocumwal sitting at 4-60, requiring 25 runs with 14 overs remaining.
It was here the Tigers captain decided to throw the ball to opening quick, Jackson Webb, with instant success. Webb’s first wicket saw Tocumwal sit at 5-61, but Webb was not finished yet, sending another batsman on the long walk back to the rooms, leaving Tocumwal at 6-66.
Tom White and Will O’Connell cautiously took the total to 6-76 with nine runs needed for a victory. Two more runs got the side to 6-78, before a spectacular catch at first slip from Eamon Hyde off the bowing of Jack Opray had Tocumwal at 7-78.
Things continued to go south for Tocumwal, who were now at 8-78, after a running mix up gave Jack Opray a simple throw to the keeper before Sam Watson removed the bails.
The large crowd could not believe what they were witnessing when the Tigers Captain handed the ball to Slatterie.
The young Tiger tearaway again did not disappoint, rocking back the batsman’s middle stump.
With the side at 9-78, Tocumwal’s retired batsman was able to return to continue his innings. As Reuben Haley took guard the crowd held its collective breath, with Sam Slatterie charging in to bowl another tight delivery.
Slatterie forced a miss-hit and while the batsman tried to run, the ball went straight to Eamon Hyde. Hyde then swooped on the ball and threw it straight back to the wicket-keeper, Sam Watson, who quickly removed the bails. The umpire’s finger pointed to the sky which was followed by the crowd’s almighty roar ― the Cobram Tigers had won in a thriller.
Overall it was an unbelievable team performance from the Cobram Tigers, who never gave up. Great batting from Lenny Power (29) and solid bowling performances by Sam Slatterie 3-8 and Jaxon Webb 3-9 were the catalysts for a big victory.
8°C