With the end of the cricket season upon us, the Forbes Junior Cricket Association (FJCA) would like to thank everyone for their support. The club is growing in numbers and it’s fantastic to see the Milos, T20’s and our new Stage 1 competition going so well.

The FJCA would like to congratulate all of the award winners of the U12’s, U14’s and U17’s as well as our Stage 1 teams. The teams had a marvellous season for 2017/2018, with so much improvement happening throughout the season across all teams.

Congratulations to our U17’s team Adept Plumbing and U12’s team Auswest for making the grand final. Although not successful on the day, the FJCA is extremely proud of you all and your positive sportsmanship displayed on the day.

The Stage 1 teams are Scorchers, Stars, Strikers and Renegades.

At the presentation, awards were given to the following:

U12’s Awards
• Forbes Livestock: Best Batter – Hugh Mackay, Best Bowler – Joe Nicholson and Most Improved – Tayte McNamara.
• Forbes Bernardis: Best Batter – Jonah Little, Best Bowler – Hugh Chudleigh and Most Improved – Oliver Walker.
• Auswest: Best Batter – Joe Ellison, Best Bowler – Patrick Ryan and Most Improved – Toby Jarick.

U14’s Awards
• Hazel & Field: Best Batter – Clinton Hooper, Best Bowler – Amy Maslin and Most Improved – Lachlan Barnes.
• Frank Spice: Best Batter – Henry Hodges, Best Bowler – Angus Turner and Most Improved- Talis Hurford.

U17’s Awards
• Gunns Mensland: Best Batter – Harrison Leadbitter, Best Bowler – Bill Ryan/ Luke McDean/ Darcy Leadbitter and Most Improved – Sam Mackay.
• Adept Plumbing: Best Batter – Jimmy Kuntze, Best Bowler – Toby Hurford and Most Improved – Brady Nichols.

Overall Club Awards
• U12’s Best and Fairest: Jonah Little
• U14’s Best and Fairest: Henry Hodges
• U17’s Best and Fairest: Toby Hurford
• Overall FJCA Most Improved: Patrick Ryan
• President’s Award: Andrew Glasson

The first Thursday in November was a special day for around 50 special class students from Parkes and Forbes public schools when they participated in DreamCricket at Parkes Pubic School. DreamCricket brings together children with a disability from years three to six. It was originally developed in the NSW Central Highlands as the result of a partnership between Rotary, the Bradman Foundation and the Movement Disorder Foundation.

The day was made super special when 18 Year 7 students from Parkes High joined in with their teacher Mark Ranger to help organise the games and cook lunch. About half the high school students completed Year 6 at Parkes Public School in 2015. The DreamCricket program allows the students to develop their hand-eye coordination, movement skills and balance in a team environment, while at the same time enjoying sport.

Students enjoyed the sporting challenges, which involved groups rotating around four specially adapted cricket-based activities. The participation and smiles on faces said it all. DreamCricket gives students that normally would not participate in sport a chance to be involved. It gives participants a chance to enjoy physical activity while developing self-confidence, self-esteem, levels of behaviour and citizenship.

The DreamCricket program has grown to schools and children throughout Australia and internationally. The day was organised as a joint effort by the Rotary Clubs of Dubbo East, Forbes, Parkes and Orange Daybreak. It was coordinated by Don Stephens, Chair of Dream- Cricket Australia and member of the Rotary Club of Dubbo West.

By Ken Engsmyr

Budding cricketer, Toby Hurford, had the great opportunity to play on the oval named after cricket legend, Don Bradman, at the beginning of the school holidays as part of the Lachlan U/14’s Representative team. The Lachlan side comprises of players selected from Cowra, Parkes, Young, West Wyalong and Forbes with Toby honoured as the only Forbes player selected.

The recent success of the Lachlan team earned them an invitation alongside teams from Hornsby, Southern Highlands, Dubbo, Wagga and Bathurst to play a round robin competition held at Mittagong and Bowral. Toby claimed
a total of nine wickets over the six games played and was rewarded by being awarded with a Don Bradman Commemoratory Coin for most wickets for the Lachlan side. The Don Bradman Museum donated the coins, which were awarded to the player who claimed the most wickets and the most runs in each team.

Toby and his family along with other Lachlan team members visited the Don Bradman museum during their time in Bowral and were in the right spot at the right time meeting cricket star, Nathan Lyon. Toby’s father, Troy, was very impressed with Nathan who was only too willing to talk to the boys and sign memorabilia and pose for photos. Nathan was originally from Young and current Lachlan coach, Dean Schoefield, also from Young, was well known to Nathan. The cricket season has now finished and Toby will now turn his sporting talents to the football field with the Forbes Junior Magpies and will return to the cricket pitch next season.

The Forbes U/14’s Cricket Team, who  were undefeated for the competition, maintained their record with a win over Parkes in the Lachlan Cricket Council Grand Final on Sunday. Forbes went into bat first and scored 10 for 96.

Although this seems like a relatively low score, Forbes’ bowlers have been their strength for the entire season. The versatility of the Forbes bowling line up kept the Parkes batsman on their toes and runs were not easy to come by.

Forbes had Parkes all out for 68 with four overs remaining. Stuart Gordan & Luke McDean were the top scorers with 21 runs each and continued their form on the wicket with Luke 4/7 off 8 overs and Stuart 3/9 off 6. Darcy Leadbitter also bowled well with 1/9 of 8 overs closely followed by Connor Greenhalgh with 0/16 from 8 overs and Toby Hurford 0/3 from 6 overs.

Congratulations to both teams for an entertaining game and displaying great sportsmanship

Talis Hurfurd made history recently when
he hit the first 6 for a cricketer of his age.
Talis plays in the U/12’s division in the local
cricket competition as well as representing
Forbes in the Lachlan Representative
team. Talis’ big hit is the first 6 achieved in
his age group for both competitions. Troy
and Hayley Hurford along with brothers
Corey and Toby were excited with Talis’
achievement and were the first ones to
congratulate him.
Cricketing talent obviously runs in the
Hurford family with older brother Toby also
making a name for himself in local and representative
cricket circles. Toby plays in the
U/14’s age division and is part of the Forbes
side that will take on Parkes in the Grand
Final this weekend. Last week the undefeated
U/14’s took on Dubbo in the Lachlan
Cricket Council Competition and drew with
these worthy opponents. The ladder board
position secured them the place in the final
game of the competition.
Toby, along with Darcy Leadbitter, represented
the region well on the 14th of February
when they defeated Mitchell, a team
consisting of players from Orange, Bathurst
and surrounding areas in the Grand
Final of the Western Country Zone Junior
Competiton.

Forbes Cricket Association President, Wayne O’Neill, was very happy with the attendance at the Super 8’s Cricket Day held last Saturday. Team and player numbers were similar to that of previous years with 21 teams and 200 players enjoying the day.

Most of the games were closely contested and played in good spirit and sportsmanship. Many of the teams included younger players with a lot of father/son combinations. O’Neill was pleased to see so many junior players in the 15-16 years age group participate in the day, including his own son who was instrumental in the win which his team had over his father’s side.

Well known cricket supporter, George Falvey, did a great job running the competition for the day and was happy to explain how the Super 8 competition operates. Each game consists of 16 overs with each side bowling eight overs each.

A run is worth one point and 10 points are recorded for every wicket claimed. For and against results are taken in consideration when determining ladder positions. Teams played a round robin within the two division on the day, A & B Grade, with the top two teams in each grade playing off in the Grand Final.

A couple of late storms did not dampen the spirits of players and PFS defeated One More Again in the A Grade final while Dirty Mike & the Boys took out B Grade over Don’t Blush Baby. A friendly grudge match between Forbes
Livestock and Jack & Greenhalgh came down to the last ball with Jack & Greenhalgh needing four runs to win, but they could only manage a single, giving Forbes Livestock the game and the pot, or esky as it was.

The Forbes Junior Cricket Committee took time from their busy schedules to thank their  local sponsors at a cheque presentation at the Forbes Services Memorial Club late last week.

The Forbes Services Club presented the committee with a cheque as major sponsor for the junior competition. Club manager, David Fitzgerald, was pleased to be supporting the community organisation and sees it as an opportunity to promote Sun Safety through the purchase of wide brim hats and long sleeve shirts. David was also happy to see junior cricket back on track in Forbes and was glad that the club was able to assist.

Along with the major sponsor, representatives of teams sponsors were also present including, Nathan Murphy from Gunn’s Menswear, Matt Hazell from Hazell & Field Chartered Accounts, Selwyn Bale from Bernardi’s Marketplace and Ian Bown from Sportspower. Sportspower have also donated two cricket bats which will be used at a Trivia Night hosted by both Junior and Senior Cricket later in the season.

Committee spokesperson, Wayne O’Neill, expressed his gratitude for the generous support of local businesses and commended the hard working committee on their efforts over the past three years. Three years ago junior cricket in both Forbes and Parkes was in real danger of folding until Tim Mackay took on the role of President. He formed
a partnership with Parkes junior cricket which has been very successful with registrations tripling during this period of time.