mmg.com.au

Moama cricketers Jake Toll and Joel Murphy faced off against some of Australia’s best junior cricketers last week when they represented Riverina at the Country Cricket NSW Bradman Cup at Nowra.

But they could not repeat the spoils they enjoyed while playing with Southern Riverina at the Colston-Scammell Shield in November, losing all three of last week’s matches.

Toll and Murphy were selected in the side, which included players from as far as Wagga Wagga and Hay, after a strong showing with Southern Riverina at the end of last year.

Both players agreed the experience of playing at a high level was beneficial.

‘‘The experience of bowling against such good batsmen was a highlight,’’ Toll said.

‘‘We’d have our little battles. Sometimes they’d get on top of me but then I’d get back on top of them.’’

Toll took 3/27 from five overs in Riverina’s first round loss to Southern, and made 38 with the bat.

He entered with the side at 7/72 and helped guide it to 139 alongside Tom Byrnes (41) before being run out.

Murphy, who vice-captained the side, made 18 runs and finished with tidy figures of 0/15 off five overs, including one maiden.

Riverina posted 146, but Southern proved too strong and won by four wickets.

Things did not get much better for Riverina in the second match as the side crumbled to 77 after deciding to bat first, ultimately losing by seven wickets to Central Coast.

The third and final match saw Toll take another three wickets but Central Northern’s batting power was immense, hitting 5/308.

Australian junior James Psarakis made 93 for the opposition, while another national player, Max Houlahan, made 64.

Toll did well to dismiss the pair and Murphy performed with the bat to make 27 at number three.

But the side fell well short of the total to lose by 146 runs.

The carnival was threatened by bushfires at times, with some matches shortened and fire trucks a constant presence in the Nowra streets.

Murphy, 15, is hopeful of obtaining another opportunity to play with the side next year, while Toll, 16, is no longer eligible.

The two will be in action for Moama’s A grade side tomorrow when it hosts Echuca South in Goulburn Murray Cricket.