Sunday saw a number of activities delivered beyond the usual fare from Cricket Shepparton and Goulburn Murray Women’s cricket.
Flagship outfit Central Park-St Brendan’s was on a mission out west, making an early Sunday trip to Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval to duke it out with the Northern Rivers region’s brightest as part of the Kookaburra Cup.
Having reached the semis of the T20 tournament by knocking over Echuca on the border back in November, the Tigers represented Cricket Shepparton against hometown outfit Strathdale-Maristians of the Bendigo district, one day after handing out a heavy Haisman Shield beating to Numurkah.
Playing in the day’s opener, Tyler Larkin’s side was happy to get on the front foot and bat first, and Larkin himself got things rolling.
It was a 44-run stand for the third wicket between Larkin and Mitchell Brett where things felt primed to get rolling, but Jack Smith would bring the skipper’s toils to a close on 40 (five fours, one six).
The run rate sputtered somewhat, but the Tigers’ bowlers might still have backed themselves to defend 108.
Though Dwain Vidler was able to make a couple of breakthroughs, Strathdale-Maristians had the manpower to fight on with a five-wicket win secured in the 18th over.
Larkin, who had himself only recently dealt with Bendigo’s best through interleague competition, lamented the result but asserted his side had obtained valuable learnings from the experience.
“It was a decent effort; Strathdale-Maristians is up there as one of the best sides in the Bendigo competition,” Larkin said.
“We did okay, but we were probably 30 runs short.
“You like to play in these comps against really good sides though, so we’re better for it.
“It’s a good sign that the two associations are competing against one another a bit more.
“From a junior perspective, we played a lot of cricket against them, but hopefully, there’s more of it in years to come.”
There was more non-league action closer to home though, as Mooroopna Cricket Club had its bi-annual fundraising intra-club exhibition.
Conveniently timed alongside the bye for its GMC Women’s side, players from all over the club converged for the Kym Sugars Cup.
A-grade senior figure Jack Gaskill appreciated the sentimental importance of honouring the former Cat on a day dedicated to emphasising mental health care.
“Kym Sugars is a massive day in the calendar for us,” Gaskill said at the weekend.
“It not only helps raise for local charities, but it’s a big weekend with a real good turnout for our Ladies Day as well.
“We always hope for one on the Sunday too, to get some funds up for mental health.”
