Deniliquin's Charlie McCallum and Hamish Baker after their under-17s MVCA grand final win on Sunday.
The under-17s Barooga Hawks have topped off an untarnished season by taking home the greatest prize of all.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The team had significant contributions from two of Deniliquin’s best up and coming cricketers, Hamish Baker and Charlie McCallum.
They joined the Barooga team when the Rhinos did not have the numbers to field an under-17s team this season.
After winning just a single game last year, the young Hawks turned their fortunes around with an unbeaten winning streak in 2025.
This culminated in a home-ground showdown with Katunga on Sunday.
Barooga Cricket Club’s 2025 under-17s premiers (back, from left) Ethan Bovalina, Nate Leith, Isaiah Benson, Riley Adams, Jason Stephens (team manager), Taiten Rudd, Alex Krause, Hamish Baker and Kohen Haddrell; (front) Charlie McCallum, Ben Lucas, Codi Bowden (vice-captain), Murphy Stephens (captain), Brendan Lewis (coach), Crue Lucas. Photo by Rhonda Doyle at Cobram Photos.
Photo by
Contributed
Barooga opened with the batting after the visitors won the toss and elected to bowl.
Ethan Bovalina kicked things off for the hosts, posting 44 from 95, joined by captain Murphy Stephens (51 from 78) whose wicket was the first to fall for Barooga at 1-86.
Their efforts were later joined by those of Crue Lucas, who went on to post 49 from 54, not-out.
Just five of Barooga’s batters would see action with the willow.
By the 40th over, Barooga found itself at 3-175.
Such was the task ahead for Katunga, and surmounting it got off to a rocky start after Jarred Bethell was bowled for a duck by vice-captain Codi Bowden (5-9 from 5.2) at the top of the order.
More smart bowling by Bowden saw Katunga’s top-order batters fall like dominoes until Oliver Ruscoe stepped to the crease for the visitors.
With 74 not-out, Rusco top-scored on the day. But his posting was the highlight for Katunga, which found itself all-out for 113 in the 29th over after further efforts by Barooga’s Hamish Baker (2-21 from four), Isaiah Benson (1-8 from three) and skipper Murphy Stephens (2-35 from six).
Codi Bowden was named man of the match.
Deniliquin players Baker and McCallum weren’t required with the bat in the grand final, but both bowled important overs.
Baker finished with figures of 2/ 21 off four overs, including a caught and bowled wicket and a maiden over.
McCallum was difficult to score off, bowling three overs and only conceding 10 runs.
The Deni players managed to contribute to the win while also taking part in Rhinos senior cricket sides during the season.
Both are set to also play a role in the Rhinos’ senior finals campaign starting this weekend.
Co-coach Brendan Lewis couldn’t contain his pride for the side.
“It’s not very often you get a bunch of kids with so many personalities as part of one group that has so much ability,” he said.
“A huge congratulations to Barooga Cricket Club in itself for preparing the grounds for the grand final, and the Murray Valley Cricket Association for doing so much in cricket to keep these kids involved. And a huge congratulations to Katunga for being there.
“It was really good to have a good fair game of cricket, and we wish Katunga all the best.”
16°C