CYMS up-and-comer Ben Winslade put himself in good stead for the 2018 under 17s Australian Indoor Junior Championship, performing well for the NSW Country Cyclones in limited opportunities at this year’s tournament.
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Being the youngest member of the NSW Country squad, leading into nationals Winslade said he was looking to use this year’s tournament to gain experience.
He was aiming to use it as a stepping stone toward the 2018 edition should he be picked again.
The 16-year-old all-rounder played in four of his Cyclones’ eight games in Mackay – against Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and ACT – dramatically improving every time he took to the court.
He finished the tournament with 43 runs from four digs at a strike rate of just under 80 and a highest score of 22, and snared 4-54.
Winslade’s Cyclones won two of those four games, scoring another pair of wins on their way to sixth overall.
NSW Country, coached by Dubbo’s Greg King, kicked off its campaign with a loss to eventual champions Queensland before thumping ACT, and then going down to South Australia.
The Cyclones went down again to NSW Metropolitan before regrouping with a win over Western Australia, and then defeating Victoria.
The side was thumped by the West Australians in its penultimate game, before Winslade starred in the Cyclones’ campaign-finishing victory over ACT.
Despite the sixth-place finish, NSW Country’s Jackson Korn won the player of the series, while Dubbo’s Tom Atlee was named in the under 17s All Stars Team.
Winslade’s unit was one of five Cyclones sides in action at their respective national titles.
Undoubtedly the highlight for NSW Country was the Cyclones’ under 13 boys’ championship win, inspired by Dubbo trio Tom Coady, Paddy Nelson and Anthony Atlee. Dubbo’s Dan French and Bailey Edmunds coached the side too.
That side only lost one game in its entire campaign, which was a last-ball defeat to NSW early on. The Cyclones scored revenge on their metropolitan rivals though, and then some, defeating the sky blues in both the major semi-final and the decider to lift the shield.
Coady was named player of the tournament and was named in the All Stars Team as well.
“The boys deserved the win. They dominated all week and only had a minor fault in the round games,” French enthused.
“They met the expectations but I’ve been around plenty of teams that you expect to do well and don’t.”
NSW Country’s under 15s boys’ side came third, as did the under 14s girls’ unit.
The under 17s girls’ side came sixth.
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
