Woodville young guns set for Grade Cricket grand final

THE Busby Babes made headlines in soccer and AFL had the Baby Bombers, now Woodville’s Wunderkinds are impressing as one of the youngest teams in Grade Cricket history.

LtoR: Jake Birchmore 19 of Mallala, Harry Nielsen 19 of Underdale and Ben Turley 20 of Woodville South (Woodville Cricket Club players) at Woodville Oval. Seven members of Woodville Cricket Club's side which has reached this Saturday's A-grade cricket grand final are 21 or younger. Picture: Stephen Laffer

THE Busby Babes made headlines in soccer and AFL had the Baby Bombers.

In Grade Cricket circles, Woodville’s Wunderkinds are impressing this season as one of the youngest teams in recent memory.

The Peckers will have at least seven players aged 21 or under in their squad when they take on Tea Tree Gully in this weekend’s two-day competition grand final at Woodville Oval.

Batsman Tom Doimo, 17, is the youngest in the team, while paceman Carl Tietjens, 29 on Wednesday, is its veteran.

Seamer Ben Turley, 20, says the minor premier has exceeded expectations after losing experienced players Chadd and Aaron Sayers to rival clubs in the off-season.

“We’re over the moon and shocked it’s come so quick with such a young group,” Turley says.

“People thought we were in the rebuilding phase and that if we played finals, we’d be sneaking in.

“But we’ve had consistency and haven’t relied on one or two people.

“We’re pretty proud.”

Manchester United’s Busby Babes won back-to-back league titles under manager Matt Busby in English soccer from 1955-57, boasting an average age of 22.

Essendon’s Baby Bombers had six players with less than 25 games experience when they won the 1993 premiership.

Turley, a Peckers player since under-10s, says his side can overcome the more seasoned Gullies and claim the club’s first two-day flag in three seasons.

“It gives a lot of Grade clubs hope that if you get a nice, young, tight-knit team culture in a group, they can go out and achieve things,” he says.

Woodville coach Sam McNally says he has not been afraid to reward young players with regular spots in the team.

“Sometimes you don’t know how good you are until you get an opportunity,” McNally says.