Young teams dominate Cowra’s 2015 cricket competition

The victory came over cross-town rivals, the Young Services Clubs Blues, by 54 runs at Alfred Oval.

The two most recent meetings between the teams had it at one win a piece, while their last meeting for a championship came in the battle for the Doug Wright Shield (Cowra's Twenty20 Championship) in which the Coyotes claimed victory on the afternoon.

A small, yet decent, crowd of support turned up to Alfred Oval where the two teams faced off in the Sportspower Cup.

Coyotes skipper Geoff Palmer won the toss and elected to bat first against the Young Services Club Blues, opting to set the total and put the pressure on the opposition to chase it down.

Despite a slow start the Coyotes soon found their groove, although hitting an up-hill boundary proved difficult for both teams playing within the compounds of the Young and District Greyhound Track.

The Coyotes were soon on their way to posting a formidable score.

Coyotes opener Ben Allen, who only scored three in the teams last meeting, took control, putting the Blues fielders under pressure during his innings of 37.

 The Coyotes were at 72 by drinks.

With the departure of Allen the Blues hoped to be able to rip through a Coyotes middle order that hadn’t had to do much over recent weeks as the Criterion Hotel-backed side charged towards the final. 

Josh Platt was finally brought onto the bowl, however the strike bowler had little to do when Nick Berry opened his shoulders for the Coyotes side.

Blasting 68 before eventualy being dismissed Berry helped lay the platform for a more than competitive 7/165 from their allotted 40 overs.

The Blues started their run chase well, Brett Humphries the first to be targeted by the Blues batsmen. 

Despite all efforts a wayward Kyle McGovern allowed the Blues to get off to a flying start.

However the dismissal of Brendan Croese helped grind their run chase to a quick halt.

Humphries was soon replaced by Allen who had an almost immediate effect. 

The Blues, despite the loss of Josh Platt, were able to hold on to reach 4 for 65 at drinks, requiring 100 from the final 20 overs to secure victory.

Just as he had done with the bat Allen was on fire with the fall, picking up four scalps for just 19 runs as the batting line up of the Blues continued to falter and it became more of a case of holding on, rather than a case of chasing down the runs.

Kris Scelly was a more than adequate replacement for Allen when his allotted eight overs were bowled to the crowd's displeasure as they were cheering the new local hero onto his five wicket haul.

However Scelly picked up the mantle with a handful of wickets, including at one stage late in the match sitting on a hat trick.

The Blues were eventually bowled out for 111 and the celebrations begun for the Coyotes.

"It's been a pleasure playing in the Cowra competition, having the stronger competition week in and week out," Coyotes skipper Geoff Palmer said.

"It's been difficult trying to get two teams on the field each week, one in A Grade, one in B Grade and on some weekends we were unable to do it, but all the pain and suffering has paid off and we have done it.” 

Allen was awarded the Bill West Medal for the Player of the Match, following his 37 with the bat and 4/19 with the ball.

This is the first season Young-based representative teams have been part of the Cowra competition, however Cowra District Cricket president Greg Nicholls insists, while the teams are welcome to remain, future finals will be in their district.

"It was to be nice, after both teams made the T20 final, and the OD Final, there was a lot of up roar that the finals weren't played here," Nicholls said.

"To keep the peace we brought the Sportspower Cup final [to Young].

"However if it is the same next year we will be in Cowra where the second grade is as it gives more atmosphere, and allows us to make presentations to both grades."