Darcy Leadbitter has claimed 10 wickets for Western Region to be named the Kookaburra Cup’s top bowler.
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Western Zone came in fifth at the end of the under 14s competition, played in Griffith from January 9-12 and won by Illawarra.
After a thumping first-up win over perennial powerhouse Newcastle on Monday’s opening day of the under-14 NSW Country Championship, Western suffered a nail-biting loss to Southern/ACT on the second day.
“We were one run off a draw and we got run out,” Darcy’s dad Jason Leadbitter said.
The royal blue caps followed that with consecutive losses to North Coastal and Illawarra in Wednesday’s Twenty20 facet of the competition.
Western ended up with two wins and three losses for the carnival, but Forbes’ left-arm quick bowler had to be thrilled with his personal performance.
Darcy took 10 wickets, mostly bowled or leg before wicket.
He’s now been selected for a combined Western Region / Riverina team – the Tornados – to play the NSW Under 14s state challenge.
That contest, the highest level of competition for the state’s under 14s, is to be played in Dubbo between four country and four metropolitan cricket sides next week.
The western team for the Kookaburra Cup boasted two Forbes players, the other was Luke McDean who also claimed a couple of wickets.
The two promising young Forbes players were leading the region for representative bowling figures before the break.
Leadbitter had nine wickets for 76 runs off 35 overs for Lachlan, while McDean had eight for 69 off 29 overs.
Another local junior, Corey McDean, is this week representing Western Zone in the Bradman Cup Under 16 side that will contest the NSW Country Cricket Under 16 Championships in Newcastle.
McDean, batsman and wicket keeper, is a veteran of the representative side – this is his second season with the under 16s after two years with the 14s.
In senior cricket, Forbes takes on Cowra for the Grinsted Cup this coming Sunday, January 22.
Forbes had to forfeit a game scheduled for earlier in January due to lack of players in the holidays, we get to host this clash.
The local men’s competition continues this Saturday.
