CQ Centurions under-14 cricket team wins Northern Alliance Championships

Proud coach Nev Judd reflects on his players’ success and reveals how a country music classic helped inspire the team’s grand final victory.

The CQ Centurions under-14s celebrate their victory at the Northern Alliance Championships. Pictured are (back row, from left) coach Nev Judd, Lachlan Bloomfield, Fraser Judd, Henry Villiers, Jonty Harch, scorer/secretary Andrew Lau, Sam Graham, Euan Austin, manager Cam Mulville and (front, from left) Jack Hudson, Axel Amos, John Mulville, Sid McCullagh, George Pentecost and Henry Lau.

Twelve Central Queensland cricketers will head into the second half of their respective 2022/23 seasons with plenty of confidence after teaming up to claim an impressive rep victory.

They were members of the CQ Centurions under-14 boys who overcame some red-hot opposition and stifling conditions to take out the North Alliance Championships in Townsville.

The Nev Judd-coached outfit finished with a perfect record, winning their three pool games and a thrilling grand final against powerhouse North Queensland.

Gladstone all-rounder Fraser Judd, who plays club cricket with BITS and North Rockhampton, was awarded the George Mitchell Medal for Player of the Carnival.

He scored 130 runs at an average of 43, his highest score being 68 not out, while also bagging four wickets and taking four catches.

The NQ Alliance is played across four age groups – under-12, under-13, under-14 and under-15 – and features teams from CQ, North Queensland, Far North Queensland and Mackay/Whitsunday.

The CQ Centurions under-12 development team was also victorious, while the under-13s finished second and the under-12s and under-15s were third.

Clermont Bulls’ Zander Philp was the Player of the Carnival in the under-12 division.

Nev was understandably proud of his playing group, which he has coached for the past three years.

“These young blokes have been a fantastic group to be a part of,” he said.

“To watch them improve to the point where we went from last in under-12s to going undefeated in this under-14 carnival has been a highlight of my 13 years as a cricket coach.

CQ Centurions under-14 all-rounder Fraser Judd receives the George Mitchell Medal for Player of the Carnival from Queensland Cricket's Zoe Eisenmenger.

“We have a simple game plan of scoring singles when batting, reducing sundries and singles when bowling and supporting each other and the boys managed to put it all together at the right time.

“Knowing that I‘ve been a part of these boys and their families’ cricket lives and share this great experience together, plus watching our own boy Fraser do well, is hard to beat.”

Nev also revealed how a country music classic helped inspire the team’s grand final victory.

“Each year I ask the boys to send me four songs for our team playlist and we get this on when in the team tent,” he said.

“Funny enough, a lot of the music is what their parents would love.

“In the final, the boys didn’t field at the level we expect as a team and were a bit down going into the innings break.

“I turned on the tunes and went off to get their lunches thinking how I was going to get them up again.

“Next thing I know, there are 12 13-year-old boys singing Take Me Home, Country Roads at the top of their voices. That’s when I knew we had the game won.”

CQ Centurions' Henry Lau scored a half-century in his team's grand final win over North Queensland at the Northern Alliance Championships.

The CQ Centurions won the toss in the final and opted to bowl.

They had North Queensland 3/70 before a few errors in the field proved costly, allowing them to post a solid score of 175.

In reply, the CQ Centurions’ top order worked hard to get within 90 runs with 20 overs to go.

Henry Lau, who won Rockhampton Cricket’s Division 2 batting award last season, came to the crease and with the support of Sid McCullagh and Sam Graham pushed the score to 7/152 in the 45th over to set up a thrilling finish.

Lau brought up a well-deserved 50 to guide the CQ Centurions to a memorable win and the Northern Alliance Championship crown.

Five players who starred for the CQ Centurions

John Mulville (Cap Coast Parkana): Team captain, opened the batting and despite injury, bowled when the team needed him. His decision-making was key to the team’s success

Henry Lau (Rockhampton Grammar School): Outstanding athlete who opened the bowling and bats middle order. Whether taking wickets or hitting the winning runs in the final, a player with unlimited potential.

Henry Villiers (Rockhampton Brothers): Was moved from opener to number four and with some great partnerships with Fraser Judd, showed that he can be a good player at rep level.

Sid McCullagh (Emerald Brothers): A week out from the championships went from being a medium-pace bowler to an off-spinner. By the end of the carnival, he had gained the nickname ‘Garry’ (the same as Australian star Nathan Lyon).

Fraser Judd (BITS/North Rockhampton): Finished his fourth and final tour for CQ by winning the Player of the Carnival. Fantastic all-round tournament with bat, ball and fielding.