By Steven Doble

Great team moral and encouragement of peers was shown in the developing U16 team on day one of their two week clash against a strong Mareeba side. 

Winning the toss, upcoming skipper Keel "#1" Sorensen chose to bat on the ex T20 pitch as Daniel "Davo" Davidson and Levi "where else would I want to be" Trewick took guard. 

A quality and patient 26 run opening stand ensued with the pitch offering some variety for the bowlers before Davo (7) was stumped offering the narrowest of opportunities to Mareeba. Tex "Terry" McDowell (1) was rewarded for his patient approach with the number three spot but after some 15 balls faced skied a catch off a rank full toss, 2/41. 

Keel entered the arena to taunts of "blocker" from the opposition and a lack of foot work to a great delivery saw him caught behind for naught, 3/45. Levi continued to put away the bad balls and keep out the good ones as Curtis "?" White (0) followed suit with reasonable defence prior to prodding forward of his body to present a caught and bowled, Muddies 4/54 in the 18th of their allotted 32 over stint.

Reuben "Rupert" Allison calmly steadied the ship and continued with Levi who after 82 balls at the crease was caught behind for 36 well earned runs to Lachlan Ford (2/4 off 5). Muddies 5/63. With Nathan "Rake" Dueble entering the arena a fresh partnership developed of 26 with Rupert and Muddies saw out the first quarter of the game at 5/89.

Ryan "Doble" Doble opened with his developing seam and pace but it was Tom "New Bloke" Harvey who cashed in clean bowling the Mareeba opener top of middle stump, 1/5 followed by 2/8 as Doble caught the edge of their number three to team keeper Davo.

Terry, Rake, and Rupert changed up the bowling before a difficult caught and bowled opportunity off Ford saw Rupert miraculously turn the miss into a run out of the non striker, Mareeba 3/32 and the game evenly poised. Liam "Clacha" Clacherty bowled some great deliveries as did Curtis (0-4), Davo and Fraser "Barra Boy" Allen but it was Trewick who broke a partnership of 62 offering a catch to #1, 4/94 off 24 overs. 

Ford (80 off 79) continued to plunder the attack before #1 induced a high catch to "I didn't know if i was going to play this season" Fraser who surely will continue as will all his great Muddies U16 team mates in their development forward at this higher level. 

Go the Muddies next week for part two of the match at home 1.00pm Saturday where Mareeba finished their quarter 47 runs in front with Reuben and Nathan ready to continue their innings and plenty of depth to come!

Muddies C Grade Results

With the odd shower about Muddies C Grade chose to bowl first against Barron River in case a rain interrupted game influenced the target set for the second half. 

The youthful Ryan "Rhino" Doble opened with two worthy overs but it was the in form Barnes to first break through with an LBW to a Barron former skipper, out for 1. Rhino was changed to Muddies self proclaimed #1 spinner Sorensen who bowled a scintillating spell to take match best figures of 3/14 as Barron lost wickets at regular intervals - 10, 10, 18, 32, 43. 

Skipper Steve Doble was nevertheless still presented with plenty of challenges in the field given his outright winning team of last week had some six changes plus a little luxury of a genuine 12th man to rotate and the inclusion of three previously unplayed new members. 

Matt "Chewy" Garbellini on debut learnt a little from the umpire about wide deliveries and no balls but nevertheless broke through for a beautiful yorker bowling his opponent in his first over. Paul Rayner complete with six page dossier was given an opportunity but Barron's cavalier wood chopping “Wilson” found boundary after boundary with cross bat slogging that presented many a challenge to Muddies as he plundered 64 off 38 deliveries including a 54 run partnership to be placed at 6/97 with some 10 overs remaining. 

A little light on in the bowling department part timer Darlington managed a second ball wicket, 18 runs and a wicket off his second over followed by a maiden and a wicket maiden to finish with 3/23 including Wilson LBW for 64, 8/120. The former great "Golden Arm" Keith Taylor suggested his T20 appearance the previous night had flushed out a handful of available deliveries and combined with Darlington the pair wrapped up Barron with five overs to spare including a very athletic catch to newcomer James "Willo" Wilson, the target 123.

Taylor and Skipper Doble opened the batting vowing to not get bogged down in the knowledge the team had plenty of batting depth on the day. Both were quickly off the mark and steadily turned over strike with a 32 run opening stand before Taylor (19) made contact on a cutting delivery to be caught behind. 

Sheldon Walz joined the Skip, the pair realising a 59 run partnership two games ago and resumed that here although it was Walz doing the bulk of scoring prior to the drinks break, 1/68 off 15. 

Doble mentioned to his team mates he was "boring himself to death" with some 21 dot balls prior to the break (hardly in keeping with his commitment to not get bogged down!). Nevertheless an exchange of helmet for cap saw his foot work improve and stroke-play flourished post drinks accelerating with a rapid 36 runs off his bat in the next six overs. 

Walz took the back seat as the skipper surpassed his score only to be set an extra five runs due to a "running down the pitch" fine dished out to Walz (39) who threw his wicket away trying to make amends, 2/123 (the original target) after a match winning 91 run partnership.

With the skipper on 42 not out, the second time he has carried his bat in 3 digs, Darlington came to the crease to typically manage a six off his very first delivery and cement the convincing win with eight overs to spare.

Next week the team travel to Atherton/Tolga for a 1pm start.