Mulgrave youngsters building form before finals

Mulgrave spearhead Blake Raper says the side’s youth brigade are hitting their straps at just the right time, with finals less than three weeks away.

Mulgrave spearhead Blake Raper says the side’s youth brigade are hitting their straps at just the right time, with finals less than three weeks away.

The Toads’ teenage contingent played crucial roles as the side cruised to a convincing eight-wicket win over Norths at Walker Road Sports Precinct on Saturday.

Raper, who took over the captaincy duties for the injured Justin Reid on the weekend, said it was an important win in the context of the season, not just because it secured a finals berth, but because the side’s rising stars took the opportunity to find some form with both hands.

“Norths got off to not a bad start with Angus (Warnock), but we bowled well to contain him and once he fell we kept the pressure on,” Raper said.

Mulgrave's Maxwell Davies- Griffith fires one down the pitch in the Cricket Far North competition. Picture: Stewart McLean

“A couple of the young bowlers that we’ve got bowled really well.

“Will (Robertson) was outstanding with the ball again and Beachy (Aidan Beach) took his first wicket in first-grade — not bad for a little leggie that’s just turned 15.

“He’s in some hot form at the moment so hopefully he can carry it through for the rest of the season.”

Robertson, Beach and fellow youngster Maxwell Davies-Griffith picked up two wickets each as Norths were bowled all out for 147.

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Mulgrave reached the required total in the 43rd over, with teenage batsman Kai Stuchbery (40) and Matthew Wilkins (43*) leading the way.

“The pitch was a little bit wet early on but it dried out and it was a good pitch for us to bat on,” Raper said.

“It flattened out towards the end and it was probably one of our best run chases at Walker Road, to be able to get the runs only two down.

“Kai’s been opening with Reidy and he took it upon himself to be a bit more selfish and try and do it himself, which is what we needed.

Mulgrave's Kai Stuchbery bats in the Cricket Far North Round 10 match between Mulgrave and Atherton, held at Walker Road sports complex, Edmonton. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Matty came in at three and for a 16-year-old I haven’t seen someone with such a cool head and temperament.

“He’s just a natural and he’s going to be a great player if he persists with it.”

Raper, who was captaining first-grade for the first time, said the way his team performed made it easy for him.

“They all chipped in and I had some old heads around me to help me out, with the likes of Jacob Stanton and Roachy around,” he said.

He said the side would focus on consistency heading into the finals.

“We’ve bowled pretty well for most of the year, it’s just about getting the little one-percenters right at the gritty end of the year,” he said.

“In the finals, every little thing like that counts.”

Originally published as Mulgrave youngsters building form before finals