CATS get the cream of Under 16 premiership

CRICKET

LVDCL

BY LIAM DURKIN

CATS completedastrongseason of Under 16 cricket in the Latrobe Valley District Cricket League, winning the competition premiership on Sunday.

After finishing the regular season on top of the ladder, CATS proved they were indeed the best team all season, accounting for Trafalgar in the decider by acomfortable margin of 57 runs.

The Shipsdecided to bowl first upon winning the toss on Mirboo North Turf, adecision they would come to regret.

Trafalgar had CATS 2/26, before ahandy 35-run partnership forthe thirdwicket betweenJesse Stevenson and Ben Hagley gave CATS the upper hand.

Stevenson departed for astoic 21 off 70 balls, while Hagley batted through until there was eight overs left in the 40-over-a-side game.

He finished with 25 off 65 balls, working in tandem with Lachlan Pass, who made the same amount of runs, but with a'redink' next to his name.

At compulsory close, CATShad 8/111onthe board.

Louis Hennessy took three wickets for Trafalgar, but it was Henry Allsop (son of Yarragon legend John 'Mantis' Allsop) who returned the most noteworthy figures, taking 2/11 off eight overs with three maidens.

The Ships were steady in their reply, yet some very tight bowlingfrom Hagley and Stevenson with the new ball meant the pressure gauge that was Trafalgar's run rate eventually exploded. Hagley ended up going for just nine runs off his six overs, and Stevenson took 3/7 off his six.

The change bowlers were equally effective. Brody Stevenson and Evan Pass were introduced before drinks, and had immediateeffect, each taking a wicket.

At the halfway mark, the Ships were facing an equation thatrequiredthem to go at four-an-over; ataskthat became insurmountable.

From 2/38, Trafalgar soon found itself 5/48. If signs weren't pointing to aCATSflag then, they soon were, as the Ships lost 4/0 to sink even further in arrears. With theinscription now firmly on the trophy, Jonathan Cullen had the distinction of taking the winning wicket.

Trafalgar was bowled out for 54, of which,Allsop made 26.

James Guy sent down adestructive spell, snaring 4/7 off six overs with four maidens, taking the wicket that ignited Trafalgar's dramatic collapse.

CATSplayerswere greetedbysupporters and parentspost-game,makingtheir way downthe hill at Mirboo North to be with them out on the ground.

The host club put on atremendousshow, with the excellent wicket and afternoon tea complemented by warm cricket weather.

Amazingly, anumber of CATSplayersonthe day were still eligible for Under 10s, answering the call to play after aschool camp left the team short.

heavily in the reasons as to why young people quit sport, and data shows that once they disengage, it’s incredibly difficult to get them back.

The good news is we can do something about it.

The even better news is one key shift in mentality could turn the tide for all three cohorts -let them play.

Incidentsofpoor sideline behaviour have been reported in Gippsland over the past12months, with coaches, parents and supporters amongthoseto have crossed the line and made community sport less enjoyable and rewarding for participants and volunteers. GippSport is highlighting this issue with anew campaign which shares stories and insights from members of the local sports community, particularly young people.

The'Let Us Play' campaign aims to encourage amore positive and safe local sport environment for everyone, regardless of ability, needs and motivations.

So what does that look like?

Here are some tips for being apositive presence on the sideline:

·Support theprocess, not the outcome;

·Control your emotions;

·Support everyone involved in the game;

·Let the coaches coach;

·Respect the decisions of umpires or referees;

·Understandthat sportparticipation is achoice, and;

·Bepresent -watch friends and family play.

So this season, please remember, it’s not the AFL, it’s not the World Cup, it’s communitysport,let them play.

For more informationonthe 'Let Us Play' campaign, visit www.gippsport.com.au

Good times: CATS celebrates afterwinningthe LVDCL Under 16 premiership

Talkaboutmixingwiththe big boys. Imagine seeing Grade 4s at school playingwith theYear 10s at recess.

Umpires Dean Treloar and Tony Flinn awarded player-of-the-match honours to Lachlan Pass.

League awards werealsohanded outatthe presentation.

CATS' Josh Bellingham won the batting and bowling average,while teammate Ben Hagley won the batting aggregate.

Like the 2003 Brownlow, there was three winners of the Graeme Freshwater Medalfor the league best and fairest.

Steven Freshwater presented the medals on behalf of his dad to Hagley and Latrobe's Jacob Bloomfield, while Centrals' Tarkyn Shankland was absent.