Group stage competition has concluded in the six-team competition, in which the Rivers featured under-16 boys and under-15 girls’ squads.
The girls, featuring Echuca’s Sophie Good and Karramomus’ Phoebe Hawker, appeared to be cruising early after an opening-day bye on December 18 preceded two December 19 triumphs.
Chasing down Gippsland Pride’s total in the opening game before defending their own against North East Knights, the Rivers girls had gotten off on the right foot.
On December 20 and 21, however, the Pride and Knights would have their respective revenge, evening the Rivers’ ledger at 2-2 in group stage competition.
The girls will still head to Melbourne’s Albert Park complex for a finals meeting with the Western Waves on Sunday, January 7, but will need a form turnaround.
Meanwhile, the boys’ side largely breezed through its pool matches except for one rain-affected encounter with North East Knights.
Kicking their campaign off on December 12 after mirroring the girls’ fixture with a bye on the first day, the Rivers boys similarly ploughed through Gippsland Pride first up.
Featuring Northerners duo Jake and Zavier Davidson as well as Walter Jackson of Euroa and Waaia’s Kaleb Gilmour, the boys’ only blemish came in a T20 super over defeat to the Knights after the two sides were knotted at 133 following Duckworth-Lewis intervention.
They would go on to run through the Pride and Knights in 50-over contests, chasing down a pair of totals in less than 30 overs each and wrapping up their group at 3-1.
The boys then took out their finals fixture at Greenvale, playing out a thrilling and high-scoring contest with the Mallee Murray Suns where Rivers openers Xavier Grant and Hugh Behrens went on a 133-run tear for the first wicket.
A great success has befallen the boys’ side, whereas the girls will have plenty to play for in their January 7 finale.
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