The under-12 and under-16 team will play the other three teams in their Southern Zone pool prior to the semi-final matches. The under-14 players will have five games to play with the top teams entering the finals round.

Last Sunday the three teams travelled to Goulburn for their final trial games. 

The under-16 team was sent into bat in windy conditions, and despite the loss of an early wicket, runs continued to flow in a regular sequence. Batting out their fifty overs, the visitors were confident that the opposition’s run chase of 315 runs would provide a significant challenge.

Three HDCA players dominated the batting. Ravi Wikramanayake followed up his score of 71 runs the previous week with a well complied 83. Strong support was provided by Ben Tucker, who accumulated 60 runs before he retired. All-rounder Dominic O’Shannessy regained fine touch with the willow contributing 42 runs.

In the field the Highlands’ bowlers caused major concerns for their rivals who found it difficult to make runs. It took 31 overs to dismiss Goulburn for 107 runs. Being a trial match, the hosts returned to the crease and when stumps were drawn after the 45 over 18 wickets were lost for 152 runs.

Nine of the 10 players used were successful at the bowling crease. Blake Denney recorded the impressive figures of four wickets for eight runs from his six overs that included two maidens. Other wicket takers were Eddie Haydon, who took three wickets while Robert McLeod, Dom Haire, Dale Young and Ryan Emmerick took two wickets a piece. O’Shannessy, Tucker and Valentino Woszczalski chipped in with one wicket each.

Denney was well positioned to take three catches whilst Wikramanayake, Haydon, Young and McLeod were responsible for one catch each. Illawarra will be their first round opposition this coming Sunday with a home game at Bradman Oval.

The under-12 team faced the Goulburn bowlers and a solid 42 run opening partnership set the pattern for further run scoring opportunities.

Will Watson was run out for 24 runs while Dan Tredinnick retired to later return to the crease to continue the run rate. Hal Canute, Eliza Heinecke and Will Kowalski maintained the run gathering while Flynn Corby scored a quick fire 22 runs. Darcy McNamara and River Woszczalski assisted Tredinnick with the 160 runs final score.

The Highlands’ bowling and fielding ensured the hosts would struggle to establish a suitable total. Watson completed a fine double, which left Goulburn’s batting in tatters, finishing with three wickets for 11 runs from four overs, two of the wickets clean bowled.

Valuable support was provided by Kowalski with two wickets for 14 runs from his four overs. Flynn Corby collected two wickets for 17 runs, while against some strong batting Hayden Willebrand maintained line and length capturing two wickets for 27 runs. Woszczalski took a tidy caught and bowled from his first over with the opposition finally capitulating to be all out for 70 runs from their forty allocated overs.

Time permitted for Goulburn to return to the crease, who resisted the HDCA for 34 overs before losing their final wicket.