THE future of cricket in the Shoalhaven appears bright, if the success of their under 14s team is anything to go by.
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Despite only one over being possible in Sunday's Greater Illawarra Zone Inter Association final at Lighthouse Oval (where Illawarra reached 0/3), Rob Gilkes' Shoalhaven side claimed the silverware thanks to their impressive regular season record.
During their 2019/20 campaign, Shoalhaven recorded wins against South Coast (twice), Illawarra and Highlands, while only losing one match to Illawarra on February 2.
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Standouts for Gilkes' side were Bomaderry's Jackson Ingram (204 runs at 51), Berry-Shoalhaven Heads' Tom Fletcher (169 runs at 56.33), Shoalhaven Ex-Servicemens' Jared Galvin (96 runs at 96 and four wickets at 2.25), Berry's Max Carr-McCarron (eight wickets at 10.50) and North Nowra-Cambewarra's Riley O'Carroll (five wickets at 7.60).
Rounding out Gilkes' side were Shoalhaven Ex-Servicmens' Matthew Higham and Nash Connell, Ulladulla United's Ryan Gilkes, Bay and Basin's Kingsley Smith, Joah Mason and Daniel Moodley, Berry-Shoalhaven Heads' Patrick Higgins and Batemans Bay's Luke Gallen.
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In other Intra Association competitions that wrapped up on Sunday, Illawarra defeated South Coast in both the under 12s and 13s finals - with Shoalhaven finishing equal-third in both.
Blake Cattle's 4/8 helped Illawarra down South Coast (92 to 79) in the under 12s at Reed Park, as 46 from Joshua Garnero steered Illawarra to victory against South Coast (3/106 to 7/101) at Judy Masters Oval's under 13s final.