After a round one drubbing at the hands of Walcha, Armidale’s Connolly Cup team have managed to claw their way back into the winner’s circle.
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Taking on Peel Bush cricket for their second match of the competition, a very young Armidale team went out to bowl first.
DJ Yeomans managed an impressive 3-14 from his eight overs while Dan Hogan brought his wicket-taking club form to the representative arena with 3-32 from 10 overs.
John Elliot kept up his consistency with 2-22 while youngster James Marshall picked up his first senior representative wicket, finishing with 1-12 from four overs.
Peel were all out for 166.
“[It was] a very young side, I think we had two 14-year-olds and two 15-year-olds and Benji [Marshall] is 16,” skipper Will Green said.
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“I think Connolly Cup is a good way to expose the younger guys to senior rep cricket and the way we are running it is giving them an opportunity to come and hopefully they will enjoy it to where they want to play rep senior cricket.
“All the young guys we called up all stood up and held their own.
“I am really impressed with that.”
With the bat, Armidale left it until late to claim the win, with four overs remaining and two wickets in hand by the time they managed to chase down the required runs.
Again it was the team’s young players who stood up, along with an unbeaten 44 not out by Elliot.
Benji Marshall scored 38 with four fours and two sixes while Olly Schmude made 25.
“The Peel guys bowled really well, they didn't give us a lot,” Green said.
“Benji cut loose a little bit but we weren't just smashing runs around.
“We were just taking our ones and twos where ever we could get them.
“Johnny Elliot's 44 not out, I don't think he has got out in rep this year.
“I told him he had to bat at three this weekend for Ex-Services.”
Green made mention of 15-year-old Peel bowler Deni Baker.
“She bowled pretty well,” he said.
“It took her a little while to find her feet but she played pretty well.”
Green applauded the “atmosphere” of the match.
“The way it was played, it was played in really good spirits,” he said.
“The Peel guys enjoyed their cricket as much as we did and it made for a good day in trying conditions, particularly for us colder weather blokes.”