Leaving the Bradman Museum in the early hours of Monday morning, the mini bus and trailer carried players, support crew and luggage made Cowra their first stop. Having spent a number of hours travelling inland, the team won the toss and elected to bat on Holman Oval.

The visitors faced 39 overs and were dismissed for 103 runs. Two players dominated the scoring, opener Valentino Woszczalski contributed 26 runs, while Ryan Emmerick found the boundary three times in his innings of 32 runs.

The hosts contributed 18 runs to the HDCA score.

Cowra needed only 33 runs to reach their desired target and lost seven wickets in the process.

Carlo Trodorowych collected two wickets for five runs in his only over. Robert McLeod, one wicket for 24 runs from seven overs, Dominic Haire one wicket for 20 runs off six overs, Ryan Morton one wicket for 13 runs bowling twenty deliveries and Emmerick one wicket for six runs having spent down three overs were the other wicket takers.

The team then travelled top Cootamundra for their next game.

The hosts had the first use of the Albert Park wicket and could only defy the HDCA bowlers for 31 overs being all back in the pavilion for 75 runs. Dean Young spearheaded the bowling attack and from his six accurate overs and was rewarded with the figures of four wickets for three runs.

Eddie Haydon provided sound support and dismissed two Cootamundra batsmen for nine runs off his single over as did Conner Taylor Helme , who returned identical figures from four overs. Haire and Ryan Morton claimed a wicket each and added 30 runs to the opposition’s score from their nine overs. The host’s score was aided by 20 sundries.

After the change of innings HDCA lost three wickets in their attempt to pass the Cootamundra score.

Ben Tucker led the scoring chase with 27 runs while Woszczalski lost his wicket when his score reached 26 runs, the identical score he’d achieved the previous day.

After the game the Bradman Trophy and Letter remained in possession of the Southern Highlands outfit.

The team travelled for an hour the following day in preparation for their match against Temora.

HDCA batted and score reached 202 runs from their 47 over innings.

Woszczalski continued his fine form being dismissed for 60 runs made up of eight fours and two sixes. Other batsmen who made significant contributions to the score were Ben Tucker 38 runs, Trodorowych 30 runs and Taylor-Helme 27 runs. Sundries matched Taylor-Helme’s score. Woszczalski and Tucker added 105 runs in their sixth wicket partnership.

The visitor’s bowling took a liking to the prepared wicket and had dismissed half the opposition batsmen for 47 runs. However, stubborn resistance saw the next wicket fall at 123 runs. The final four batsmen found the HDCA bowlers difficult to defend against and the side was dismissed for 157 runs. The visitor’s bowlers only gave away five sundries.

Haire led the bowling attack with distinction and took three wickets for 22 runs off seven overs. McLeod finished with two wickets for 28 runs from five overs while Haydon proved very economical taking two wickets for 8 runs from eighteen balls.

King bowled five overs taking one wicket for 22 runs while Ryan Morton collected his wicket for 12 runs from two overs.

Situated on the Great Western Highway the players reached West Wyalon for thir at McAlister Oval. Tucker took a liking to the host’s bowling and walking to the crease at his preferred number 5 position he fell nine runs short of a well- deserved century.

Haire’s 29 runs supported by Woszczalski with 21 runs to his credit saw HDCA dismissed for 215 runs. A score of 42 sundries contributed to the batting team’s score.

It seemed a familiar pattern when the HDCA bowlers were provided with a chance to attack the West Wyalong batsmen and they crumbled to be dismissed for 104 runs. Two wickets apiece were a reward for accurate bowling by five of the bowlers. Mason King’s five overs saw only 7 runs taken from his bowling. Four overs were sent down by both Trodorowych and James Morton saw both bowlers contributing 16 runs to the opposition score. Woszczalski and Ryan Morton also proved economical having 16 runs taken from their combined six overs.

Heading for home on day five the team played their final game against Young. It was another positive innings from the HDCA team leaving the hosts to score 193 runs to achieve victory. An opening stand of 38 runs ensured a solid foundation with opener Emmerick faced 59 balls and copmpiled his score of 55 runs that included seven boundaries and two sixes. Haire followed Emmerick’s example remaining at the crease long enough to put together a sound 53 runs.

McLeod contributed 20 runs while Woszczalski helped the score along by scoring 15 runs with Ryan Morton making a quick fire 13 runs.

In reply Young totalled 146 runs with four of their batsmen reaching double figures. Sundries forfeited by HDCA totalled 26 runs. The first 20 overs were bowled by the opening pair of McLeod, collecting two wickets for 16 runs and Haire completed a fine double returning the figures of two wickets for 33 runs.

However, when called into the attack Young sliced through the opposition’s middle order and finished with four wickets for 25 runs from nine overs. King, one wicket for 12 runs from four overs and Taylor-Helme one wicket for 19 runs off thirty balls completed the HDCA bowling figures.

This annual tour continues to be well supported by the families of the players with Robert McLeod’s mother taking on the bus driving duties. The players capitalised of this learning opportunity, both on the field of play and socially with the chance to get to understand their colleagues away from the home situation.