Cattle’s century, U12s bounce back, and U14s dominate: A big weekend for Illawarra rep cricket

Cricket Illawarra’s junior representative teams were in action again across the region last weekend, producing excellent performances and showcasing the depth of young cricketing talent coming through the Illawarra pathway programs.

Under 12s – Foster Shield Round 4

Round 4 of the Foster Shield saw Illawarra host Inner West Harbour at Hollymount Park West, with players, umpires, and officials pausing before play to observe a minute’s silence in memory of Ben Austin, the young Victorian cricketer who tragically passed away during training last week.

After being sent into the field, Illawarra delivered one of their best bowling and fielding efforts of the season. The attack bowled with discipline and energy, keeping pressure on from both ends. Quick bowler Brock Smith was simply outstanding, claiming an incredible 6/10 from 7 overs with pace, control, and movement, helping to dismiss Inner West Harbour for just 103 from the final ball of their innings.

The chase got off to a rocky start, with opener Fletcher Bell falling first ball and Illawarra slipping to 2/14. But a composed innings of 33 from David Micallef steadied the innings before Bradley Cohen (28no) and Austin Merola (32no) combined for a patient and mature 56-run unbeaten partnership, guiding the side to a confident 7-wicket victory.

It was a fine all-round performance that highlighted the team’s growing confidence and resilience. Illawarra will look to build on that momentum when they face Fairfield-Liverpool away in Round 5 next weekend.

Under 14s – Inter-Association T20 Series Finale

It was an exciting day of junior cricket at Hollymount Park as the Under 14 Illawarra Red and Blue sides wrapped up their Inter-Association competition against South Coast, playing three entertaining T20 matches that capped off a successful campaign for both teams.

In the opening all-Illawarra clash, Illawarra Red prevailed in a close and spirited contest. Red batted first to post 5/122 (20 overs), thanks to a fluent 52 from Oliver Lach-Newinsky and a composed 37 from Ethan Abela, setting a strong foundation. In reply, Illawarra Blue showed determination with the bat but were bowled out for 114 in the final over, with Digby Haran (3/18 off 4 overs) and Ciaron Geddes (1/20 off 4 overs) bowling beautifully to seal the win for Red.

Red carried that form into their next match, dominating South Coast with a commanding all-round performance. Batting first, they piled on 1/167 from 20 overs, led again by Lach-Newinsky (65) and Abela (53no), who both played with class and confidence. Their bowlers then backed it up, keeping South Coast to 5/62, with William Gray (3/8 off 4 overs) and Oliver Flanders (1/10 off 3 overs) outstanding.

Illawarra Blue finished their day strongly, posting 6/129 in their final match against South Coast, with Lachlan Tate (40) and Jack Henson (27) steering the innings. Their disciplined bowling attack then held South Coast to 6/96, led by Thisen Keerthirathne (1/11 off 4 overs) and Tate (1/3 off 1 over), securing a well-deserved victory.

The day capped off a fantastic series, played in great spirit between all teams. Illawarra Blue claimed the overall Inter-Association title, narrowly edging out Illawarra Red on countback — both finishing the season with three wins from four games.

Under 17s – Watson Shield

The Under 17 Watson Shield side continued its superb run of form, recording its fourth straight win with a dominant 10-wicket victory over Sutherland at Hollymount Park, Woonona.

Batting first, Sutherland started strongly, putting on 56 for the first wicket, but Illawarra’s bowlers soon wrestled back control. The spinners took centre stage, with Oliver Smith (2/34 off 10 overs), Liam Burrill (1/18 off 8 overs), Lachlan Gray (2/37 off 10 overs), and Ben Maloney (2/19 off 8 overs) applying relentless pressure to restrict Sutherland’s scoring in ideal batting conditions.

In reply, Illawarra’s top order made light work of the chase. Skipper Blake Cattle produced a stunning innings of 123 not out from 90 balls, including 11 fours and 6 sixes — his third century in four matches — while Oliver Wright (54no) provided excellent support. Together they shared an unbroken stand of 189, steering Illawarra home in the 31st over without losing a wicket.

Coach Mark Johnston praised his side’s professionalism, saying:

“Blake’s concentration and application were outstanding — I can’t recall a loose shot all innings. It was a great example to the rest of the team, especially the younger players. Our spinners also did a tremendous job in maintaining pressure throughout the innings.”

The result sees Illawarra move to the top of its pool after four rounds, with a key clash against South Coast coming up next at the University of Wollongong Oval.

A bright weekend for Illawarra cricket

It was another strong weekend across the grades, with impressive individual performances and team efforts that reflect the depth of Illawarra’s junior representative program. The players’ commitment, sportsmanship, and steady development continue to be a real credit to their coaches and the region’s cricket community.