Albany and Districts Cricket Association send strong teams to junior country week carnival

Albany and Districts Cricket Association will field four teams at junior country week for the first time when it starts on Monday in Perth. Across the annual five-day tournament that runs from January 9-13, the ADCA will send two under-16 teams and two under-14 outfits to compete against other regional cricket teams from around WA. It is the first time the ADCA has sent four teams to the competition, an increase from the three that were sent last year. The Albany under-16 A-section side contains a raft of talented players who have A-grade experience, including captain Teague Valli, Buddy Robinson, O’Shea Durack and Milan Jaggi. Darryl Robinson will take the reins as coach for the top under-16s side and is optimistic of a strong showing across the five days. “We play Bunbury first up who are probably the other best team in the comp,” he said. “We’re bringing a pretty good side so we’ll be fairly confident in trying to make the final which is at the WACA, that’s our first goal. “Obviously Teague Valli is there who usually goes really well at representative carnivals. “You’ve got guys like Cam Walsh and O’Shea Durack who are both older guys that have been around for a bit now so hopefully they can have good carnivals too.” The under-16 A-section side launch their campaign with T20 matches against Bunbury and Districts and then Geraldton at Tompkins Park on Monday. That will be followed by three 50-over games against Busselton-Margaret River (Tuesday), Wellington (Wednesday) and Cricket North West (Thursday). Finals will be contested on Friday with the under-16 A decider to be played at the WACA. “We’ve got a really decent side right down to number 12,” Robinson said. “All the kids have some A-grade experience this year which will hold us in good stead. “The main reason is just to come up and have some fun but you always have a bit more fun when you’re winning.” The under-16 B side will start their campaign against Northam and then play Bunbury and Districts and Peel twice each. Semifinals will be played on Thursday and finals will be contested on Friday with Mark Edwards coaching the ADCA side. Paul Osborne will coach the under-14 A squad with matches against Bunbury and Districts, Busselton Margaret-River, Geraldton and Wellington. The under-14 B side, coached by Paul Nielsen, will play matches against Bunbury and Districts, West Pilbara, Esperance, Eastern Districts and Broome. Junior Country Week Teams 16A Teague Valli (C) Oliver Douglas Peter Darmody Charlie Cousins Cameron Walsh O’Shea Durack Milan Jaggi Devon Jefferis Matthew Thompson Austin Brown Rory Luscombe Buddy Robinson Coach: Darryl Robinson Assistant coach: Paul Cousins 16B Riley Bessen (C) Cooper Edwards Brock Herbert Harrison McLeod Angus McSweeney Rory Sutherland Hayden Leo Ulrich Kriek Heath Caldwell Max Harris Axle Pearce Fraser Syme Coach: Mark Edwards Assistant coach: Damion Leo 14A Adam Hetherington Chaz Durack Dash Germinario Eugene Bird Jake Schwarzbach Lochlan Otway Lucas Smart Max Osborne Regan Christensen Ryan Hick Tommy Plowman Ambrose Clayton Coach: Paul Osborne Assistant coach: Dane Christensen 14B Angus Clarke-Smith Bryce Hinchcliffe Cooper Barlow Henry Harriss Jensen Brayshaw Robson Nielsen Sam O’Toole-Gardner Stan Ebert Evan Pretorious Teo Forman John Byrne Oscar Kerin Coach: Paul Nielsen Assistant coach: Tom Forman