Dalyellup College makes Statewide semi-final

Dalyellup College is beginning to reap the rewards of a major investment in its cricket program, with the school progressing as far as the semi-final in this year’s Kim Hughes Shield, a Statewide competition for secondary schools.

After qualifying out of the South West pool, the cricket specialist school fell just one game short of a trip to the WACA Ground, losing to long-time cricket school, Kent Street Senior High School.

The school has been endorsed by the WACA for eight years, over which time it has taken students on international tours, developed facilities at the school’s oval and installed three turf practice wickets, the only set in the South West.

“Not only can they develop as cricketers, in a program like this they can develop as people and that’s what I have tried to do over the past couple of years,” cricket coordinator Tim Bowen said.

“We have got some really talented young cricketers in this program and they have really stepped it up this year.

First XI captain Jake Bennett said the chance to play a highly-regarded cricket school was a good experience.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to play Kent Street here and for them to come down to the South West,” he said.

“In the program we are given the opportunity to build and prepare for every game, which is great.”