The league’s next-generation faced Wangaratta District Cricket Association in the Cooper-Welsh Shield fixtures held throughout the Wangaratta region, led off by the under-17 boys.
An early stumble had Shepparton precariously perched at 4-48, but Nagambie’s Flynn O’Brien (49 runs) and Tatura’s Tyson Webb (50) combined for a 102-run partnership to produce a respectable 199 at Norm Minns Oval.
It took Central Park’s Alex Robertson only two deliveries to strike for the first of his two wickets, setting the tone as Tigers clubmate Tom Mellington snared 4-7, helping instigate a Wangaratta collapse that saw Shepparton clinch a 110-run win.
The Travis Waters-coached under-16s delivered a bowling masterclass, with Bohdi Lee (2-18) and Jack Mahoney (2-8) leading a perfectly balanced attack that dismantled the WDCA for just 118.
Katandra’s Dayne Wilson jumped to the openers slot and his watchful 37 proved pivotal in a tricky chase that saw Shepparton pass Wangaratta with three wickets remaining in the shed.
Out at Warerna Park, the under-15 girls strangled their opponents with the ball thanks to SYCU spearhead Alicia Kazayi with 2-5 and Numurkah’s Georgia Robertson with 2-12, while Penny Mason (27 not out) and Phoebe Hawker’s 13 ensured the chase of 90 was a smooth one.
Nagambie’s Flynn Bush top-scored with 50 in the under-15 boys two-wicket defeat, while Cricket Shepparton’s under-14 (white) side were also beaten despite Karramomus bowler Noah Hawker’s 3-7 keeping a lid on the WDCA batters.
The under-14 blue boys lost by 53 runs but Callan O’Dwyer (33), Hudson Dudgeon (25) and Ty Davidson (3-28) stood up for Shepparton.
Tatura's Harrison Whitford unleashed a blistering 73 off just 45 balls, combining with Old Students' Xavier Tenace (45) to power the under-13s to 201, before Nash Waters (3 wickets) and Blake Bunfield (2 wickets) sealed a 45-run victory.
The under-12 clash between Shepparton White and Wangaratta Gold delivered a nail-biting one-wicket thriller, with Tom Goss (24) and Jack Molyneaux (22) battling to post 135.
But despite some sharp bowling from Oliver De Maria and Harvey Lawn, the WDCA got there with a wicket to spare.
Alex Khan and Nixon Bovalino were solid at the top of the order for Shepparton Blue but Wangaratta was ultimately too strong.
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