Cricket: Sons of guns shine

Two sons of South West sporting guns have been selected to lead the South West regional Under-16 cricket team at the Lords Taverner’s carnival in Perth next month.

Capel whiz kid Jacob Evans, son of former State star and several times South West player of the Year decorated hockey icon Jodi (Goss) has been selected as captain and Connor Blakely, son of former Hayward’s Medal football star is his deputy.

The two will combine their talents in a squad to take on the other major regions of the State, Great Southern, Goldfields, Central Districts, Wheatbelt and Mid West in Perth on Monday, December 20, Tuesday and Wednesday in 50-overs and two T20 overs matches on the Wednesday.

Evans scored a sensational 167 in his first adult match for Capel in the Bunbury and Districts cricket Association Second Grade at the start of the season and has since built on that phenomenon to become the first player this season in any grade to score two centuries and pass the 500-run mark.

His average is 101.

Blakely showed his talents during the inter-region Development squad round robin series with a fine half century to add to other achievements, graduating to the B Grade and featuring in two First Grade games for BDCA leaders Hay Park.

Several Bunbury young guns fired in their respective Perth ventures as well.

Former Colts and BDCA batsman Leon Downie scored 78 not out to rescue South Perth from a precarious 5-60 to 8-225, Sam Whiteman posted 42 for Rockingham- Mandurah against Claremont Nedlands and ex-Harvey-Benger tyro Dane Crognale stroked a superb 72 in an opening stand of 119 for Willetton against Scarborough.

The South West under-16 team will warm up its talents against Bayswater-Morley at the Bunbury Recreation Ground on Sunday.

The South West Under-16 squad for the Lords Taverner’s Carnival is: Jacob Evans (captain), Connor Blakely (vice-captain) Tylor Robertson, Keaton Spencer-Wright and Isaac Wedderburn (Bunbury) Luke Parker (Wellington), Drew Watson, Sam Busetti, Zac Davies, Kurt Morris, Jackson Howlett, and Kurt Davis (Busselton).

On Sunday Colts Clayton Caltsounis and Marist’s Ricky Marsh will replace absent Luke Parker and Tylor Robertson for the match against Bayswater-Morley starting at 10am.