The two FNQ thorns in Mackay Whitsundays’ side

For the second consecutive year, this FNQ partnership paved the way for a big win at the U15 NQ Championships

Far North Queensland representatives Benjamin Harrison and Angus Goetze, 15, combined for 132 runs in FNQ's eight-wicket win over Mackay Whitsundays on Day 1 of the U15 NQ Championships in Mackay. Photo: Callum Dick

Benjamin Harrison and Angus Goetze don’t bat together often but when they do, they go big – and it’s usually at the expense of Mackay Whitsundays.

The script writers must have taken an early mark for Christmas because for the second consecutive year, the Far North Queensland pair combined to dominate the Mackay Whitsundays bowling attack.

On day one of the U15 North Queensland Championships in Mackay, Harrison (82 off 140) and Goetze (50 off 62) put on an incredible 116-run second-wicket partnership to see off their hosts and get FNQ’s campaign off to the perfect start.

Chasing 180 for victory, FNQ started slowly as Harrison and fellow opener Gareth Thomas took their time acclimatising to the wicket.

When Thomas departed for 19 off 56, FNQ coach Robert Adams made the call to shift Goetze from six to three and it proved a masterstroke.

With Harrison rotating the strike at one end, “powerhouse” Goetze started to find the fence and put pressure back on a Mackay Whitsunday attack which to that point had been feeling comfortable.

“Early on we were struggling,” the coach said.

“They bowled really good areas and set good fields, but the longer the boys batted the easier it became.

“ (Goetze) was due to come in at six but we were going a bit slow and he’s a bit of a powerhouse, so I put him up to three.

“Ben did the job for us and I'm glad he stayed out there until the end and won the game for us.”

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Norths-United junior Harrison said once he hit the half-century mark, and with Atherton junior Goetze maintaining the run rate, he was able to open up and start finding the fence.

“They were bowling pretty tight (at the start) so I thought I would just try to get through and then once Gus came in he hit a few fours, started to clear the boundary and it got a bit easier from there,” Harrison said.

“We planned to get to 110 by the second drinks break and we did that – then it was a bit of fun from there,” Goetze added.

Unfazed by his late dismissal, which allowed Atherton teammate Alex Nasser to spend some time at the crease, Goetze said it was nice to be among the runs and start the championships on a positive note.

His coach agreed.

“(A first-up win was) very important,” Adams said.

“We’ve got big plans to win this carnival.

“I’ve been coaching CFN for 8-10 years now and that’s the biggest run chase I’ve been a part of. We usually get rolled for 90 chasing 180. I was very proud of the boys.”

The experienced coach also had praise for young bowler Seth McGinty (2/18 off 9.1), whose economical bowling helped keep Mackay Whitsundays’ total under 200 and ultimately allowed his team to control the tempo in the run chase.

“His bowling today was superb,” Adams said.

FNQ face North Queensland on day two of the championships on Tuesday.

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