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Magpies skipper Rhys McBride saved his sole interview of the season for its showpiece event and just like his batting, it did not disappoint.
Once again it was the big-hitting opener who stole the show and the headlines in Saturday nightâs Dixon Homes Division 1 T20 Shootout grand final against Norths.
McBride smashed 62 off 32, including four fours and as many sixes, to put Magpies into prime position chasing 124 for victory.
After Norths managed to dig themselves out of an early-innings hole to post a respectable total, McBride âknew it was going to take a lot to chase them downâ and took it upon himself to get the party started.
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When Conor Bryant let himself reflect on Saturday nightâs T20 grand final defeat to Magpies he could do so with a smile, because 12 months earlier he played a key role in getting them there.
The longtime Devil switched to Magpies last season and played a part in nurturing the clubâs stable of young but talented players, before returning to Norths this year.
It came back to bite him on the biggest stage in Mackay cricket, when those same young guns â led by experienced campaigner and top bat Rhys McBride â rolled to a six-wicket win on Saturday night.
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Mackay Whitsundays’ disappointing start to the U15 North Queensland Cricket Championships is through no fault of rising young opener Joel McFarlane.
The Walkerston batsman is averaging 40 after two days of top-tier cricket at Harrup Park.
Sweating through high humidity in Tuesday’s clash with Central Queensland, McFarlane stayed at the crease to face more than 100 deliveries for a hard-fought 42.
He was once again left to go it alone at the top of the order as the hosts struggled to get much going with the bat early in the innings.
“The bowling was pretty good from them,” McFarlane said.
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The lure of a rare premiership three-peat and challenge of staying unbeaten for another calendar year is fuelling North Mackay Saints coach Craig Jenkins’ return to Zeolla Park next season.
Jenkins has recommitted to the head coaching gig and told the
Daily Mercury it “would be silly” to pass on the opportunity to make it three AFL Mackay premierships on the trot.
“I’m looking forward to it – probably a bit more than last (season), actually,” Jenkins said.
“I think it would be silly to hand over the reins now. We have a good bunch of blokes around and there hasn’t been any real dramas.
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Subscriber only Benjamin Schembri s stellar showing with bat and ball is the silver lining from a disappointing loss to FNQ on day one of the U15 North Queensland Championships at Harrup Park this afternoon. The Pioneer Valley all-rounder was joint top-scorer for Mackay Whitsundays in an eight-wicket loss to a quality FNQ outfit. Coming in at seven, Schembri blasted 38 off 46, including six fours, to tie opener Joel McFarlane s total and help push the hosts total out to 180. Schembri was then the pick of the bowlers, particularly early in the second innings, with tight lines and smart fields keeping the FNQ openers under wraps.