23/01/2026
Under 14's write up by Michael Cutting (Coach)
Day 1 vs. YP @ Sandy Creek
We played our first game at picturesque Curdnatta Park and after the first morning administrative tasks were out of the way skipper Luke Stewart won the toss and chose to bat. It wasn’t the start we were looking for with a wicket lost on the second ball of the innings and at 6/52 the innings was teetering. Ethan Cudbertson and Hayden Tanner came together and rescued the innings however adding a crucial 71 for the 7th wicket which eventually enabled a competitive total of 9/151 posted. With the ball Oli Speed got the early breakthrough to have YP 1/1 however a 52 run second wicket partnership before a top spell from KI quick Jack Wurst and Luka Labuschagne spinning a web with his crafty leg spin saw YP all out for 103 and a good first up win recorded.
- Fleurieu 9/151 (E Cudbertson 31*, L Stewart 23, H Tanner 22) def. Yorke Peninsula 103 (J Wurst 3/3, L Labuschagne 3/21)
Day 2 vs. Mid North @ Tanunda
The coin toss didn’t come down our way on day 2 and we were asked to bowl first but a good start was made to have MN at 2/11 early on. Two wickets to Wurst had MN at 4/46 before a good stand was broken by Averats. Another wicket to Averats and two to Labuschagne reduced MN to 8/90 and at 9/97 the boys had worked themselves into a strong position. An unfortunate mis communication in the field and missed opportunity enabled MN to then push on to 9/134. In reply another early wicket was lost (1/3) before several handy partnerships had the score at 4/73 but the bowling was tight. From here MN were able to claim regular wickets which kept the pressure on the lads and they were dismissed for 120 in the penultimate over to finish just short of the target. Good knocks from MTCA pair in Stewart and Burbidge highlighted the batting innings in a game that we didn’t quite execute at key moments but valuable lessons to take away from the experience.
- Mid North 9/134 (L Labuschagne 2/4, R Averats 2/12, L Martins 2/20, J Wurst 2/23) def. Fleurieu 120 (L Stewart 27, C Burbidge 23)
Day 3 vs. Upper North @ Sandy Creek
We headed back to Curdnatta Park on day 3 with the day 2 loss meaning we had to rely on other results going our way and win comfortably to remain any chance of qualifying for the GF match. With that scenario in mind we won the toss and chose to bowl first with Oli Speed making the early breakthrough (1/9). UN then pushed onto 5/75 with Cootes, Wurst and Labuschagne in the wickets, a 42 run 6th wicket stand broken by Wurst and eventually 8/151 was posted. Wurst continued his good form with two wickets while Sol Cootes also picked up two scalps. After losing two early wickets (2/6) captain Luke Stewart and Hayden Tanner added 124 runs to shift the momentum of the game right back into our favour. In the end the total was comfortably chased in 36 overs for the loss of 5 wickets, Stewart pushing onto a fine 67 while Tanner played another key knock making 48 and KI’s Wurst blasting 2 x 4s and a 1 x 6 at the end to secure the win.
- Upper North 8/151 (S Cootes 2/19, J Wurst 2/30) def. by Fleurieu 5/152 (L Stewart 67, H Tanner 48, J Wurst 14*)
Day 4 vs. Eyre Peninsula @ Gawler South
With Mid North remaining undefeated in the pool, we faced EP in the play-off for 3rd and 4th on day four. We bowled first after losing the toss and despite bowling tightly the first breakthrough didn’t come until the 19th over with Louis Martins trapping the EP opener LBW. A second wicket to Martins and then two to Ryder Oborn had the boys well placed at 4/99 after 31 overs however EP were able to push on from this position to post a competitive total of 7/175. As had been the case all week we lost early wickets with the bat with Stewart the first to go LBW followed by Wurst and at 2/14 we were under pressure. Aldinga’s Riley Averats was elevated to open, and he was batting with good intent but he would be the third wicket to fall for a well made 39 (58). Ryder Oborn looked composed for his 18 but the EP bowling remained tight, and the required run rate was increasing. Burbidge and Labuschagne took the fielders on with aggressive running between the wickets and they added 27 runs but when Labuschagne went the scenario was an unlikely 54 runs from 4 overs, the innings eventually finishing on 7/145, underage player Callum Burbidge from Jervois again impressive with an unbeaten 26.
- Eyre Peninsula 7/175 (L Martins 3/27, R Oborn 2/24) def. Fleurieu 7/145 (R Averats 39, C Burbidge 26*, L Labuschagne 19, R Oborn 18)
On behalf of the coaches, Michael Cutting and Brodie Clarke we would like to congratulate the boys on a solid week of cricket and we trust the players all took some development and areas for improvement away from the 4 challenging days of cricket against quality opposition. We would also like to thank parents and grandparents who supported the boys across the week, a good dynamic was evident amongst the boys and parents which was great to see. Thanks to the host clubs for their hospitality, the officiating umpires and to SACA for the coordination and management of the Country Cup.
Congratulations also to the Fleurieu U12 team for winning their competition, an outstanding achievement.
