TWO of the Far South Coast’s finest junior products have excelled for ACT/NSW Country at the recent under 19s national championships in Tasmania.
Tom Engelbrecht (Tuross Head) and Matthew Gilkes (Ulladulla) both helped ACT/NSW Country finish sixth, behind eventual champions NSW Metro.
The pair’s two-week tournament opened with a draw, when their match against South Australia was abandoned because of snow.
This was followed by victories against Northern Territory, Victoria Metro, Cricket Australia XI and Tasmania in the round games.
But unfortunately, the team lost their qualifying final to Western Australia 5/210 to 8/208.
Following this loss, ACT/NSW Country rebounded with a strong win against Queensland, where Gilkes top scored with 83 from 78 balls and Engelbrecht posted a half century.
The team unfortunately lost their final game to Victoria Country 6/261 to 9/260.
During the tournament, Gilkes scored 187 runs at an average of 26.7 while taking nine catches and causing two run outs as wicket keeper.
Engelbrecht on the other hand scored 186 runs at an average of 46.5, while also claiming eight wickets.
Courtney Ward
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
