Perfect Eastern Eyre snare Quality Wool Cup

Eastern Eyre coach Trevor McDonough (left) with the U14 champions and National Wool Manager, Glen Forbes (right).

UNBEATEN Eastern Eyre have triumphed in the 2018 Quality Wool Cup after a consistent two‑day performance in the Twenty 20 competition's seventh instalment in Port Lincoln last week.

With a perfect record of four wins from four matches (eight points), Eastern pipped Tumby Bay Dolphins (six points) and last year's winners Great Flinders (six points) for the silverware in a tight finish.

Eight under‑14 teams from across the Eyre Peninsula took part in this year's competition, with matches played on Thursday and Friday at Centenary Oval, Poole Oval and the Ravendale Complex in warm conditions and in front of healthy crowds.

With four unbeaten teams after the first day's action (Eastern Eyre, Far West, Tumby Bay and Great Flinders), the Cup reached a grandstand finish on the final afternoon when Eastern Eyre and Great Flinders went head‑to‑head at Poole Oval to decide the trophy.

In a thrilling contest, Eastern Eyre (4/109) narrowly shaded Great Flinders (7/100) by nine runs to take the spoils.

The evenness of this year's Quality Wool Cup was demonstrated by the fact that all eight teams competing registered at least one win from their four matches.

There were also a number outstanding individual performances, with the leading batsman, bowler and fielder each being awarded a commemorative bat signed by SA Redbacks Captain and Australian representative Travis Head.

Tumby Bay's Brodie Higgins piled on 108 runs in his four innings to take the batting trophy, while Cameron Izzo from the Lincoln Great Whites was the leading bowler snaring six wickets at an average of seven apiece.

Winners: (L-R) Cameron Izzo, Lincoln Great Whites, Jack Lienert, Kimba Cats, Brodie Higgins, Tumby Bay Dolphins

History also repeated itself with Kimba's Jack Lienert making it back‑to‑back fielding trophies, having won the same award in 2017.

Quality's National Wool Manager Glen Forbes lauded the success of this year's tournament, calling it "one of the best ever".

"It was great to see all the people around town in their Quality Wool gear and all the kids and families enjoying their time in Port Lincoln," he said.

EP Junior Cricket President Tom Kenny and SACA Country Cricket Officer Seb Goldsmith echoed his sentiment, applauding the talent on display and saying the Quality Wool Cup would provide a perfect preparation for those players going on to represent Eyre Peninsula in the State under‑14 Country Cup in the Barossa Valley this week.

Fixtures, results and statistics from the 2018 Quality Wool Cup are available on the Eyre Peninsula Cricket website.

Media information: Tom Kenny, President, EP Junior Cricket Association, on 0428 292 350.

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