The Dubbo under 13s side features some high quality young cricketers, including state challenge representatives Tyson Deebank and Fletcher Hyde.

But Glen Shepherd – co-coach alongside Peter Hyde – said there was more to the Orange junior carnival than winning.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity, not only the quality of the opposition but also for a lot of them it’s their first chance to go away as a team,” Shepherd said.

“So learning to get along with their teammates – we’ll head down on a bus all together.

“From my point of view, I have memories as a kid of how much fun I used to have.”

The four-day carnival has not only drawn teams from Bathurst, Orange and Lachlan, but other strong regional NSW districts, Sydney and the ACT.

Each side will play four 50-over games, with Dubbo set to face Inner West Harbour on Monday before taking on Blacktown Black on Tuesday.

Results from those two days will determine the draw for the second half of the competition.

Hyde and Deebank are expected to perform well, with the pair selected to take place in a showcase game on the Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile older players like Dugald Shepherd will be looked to to bring some experience and maturity on the field.

Shepherd considered the carnival a chance to reward the athletes who have performed consistently for Dubbo’s under 12 and 14 representative teams in the Inter Council competition, as well as “a few other kids who have showed promise throughout the year”.

“I think we’ve got an opportunity to perform quite well,” he said.

“We’ll be looking to give them all an opportunity to perform as well, so there won’t just be the same kids doing the same thing everyday – everyone will have a go.

”Tyson and Fletcher, they’ll be looking to perform well … and then from a bowling  point of view Ned Jones is a fast bowler and a big, tall bowler so he’ll have the chance to test a few kids out.

“We’ll have a very tired busload on the Thursday afternoon.”

DUBBO UNDER 13S: Elias Sarantzouklis (keeper), Josh Townsend, Affan Sagri, Tyson Deebank, Dugald Shepherd (captain), Ollie Williams, Bailey O'Connor, Fletcher Hyde (keeper), Ned Jones, Jack Strawns, Aiden Kinsey and Caiden Ah See.

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