Junior side excels at country week
The Pilbara’s best junior cricketers have returned from their most successful country week campaign in the past few years.
Players went to Perth for five days with coach Gavin O’Brien at the helm, and won four of their six games, having never won in two previous attempts.
The tournament started with two Twenty20 games, in which an unbeaten 44 by skipper James O’Brien against Eastern Districts was enough to see them share the spoils.
O’Brien shone again in the 40-over game against Northam the following day.
He scored 37 and claimed a handy 2-18 with the ball in a comfortable victory.
Lawson Humphries proved the spearhead, however, claiming 3-5 from four overs.
A huge day three saw West Pilbara Junior Cricket Association pitted against eventual winners Busselton-Margaret River.
The WPJCA dug deep and needed two runs off the final ball to win, but could not make it over the line.
Leroy McCawley (26), Reuben McCawley (23) and Jedd Bullen (20) scored well and Jack Trinder’s 1-5 ensured it would be a close run chase.
WPJCA bounced back the next day, setting a huge 291 against Esperance before bowling the opposition out twice.
O’Brien (55) and McCawley (46) were among the runs again, as was Will Graham with a handy knock of 43.
McCawley was named man of the match after claiming eight wickets across both innings.
The Pilbara boys finished the tournament with a 30-run win over Bunbury, leaving them in fourth place.
O’Brien capped off an impressive outing with another 22 and 4-30 with the ball. Graham (23) top-scored and Michael Durack (21) put some runs on the board as well.
The WPJCA team.