Bush Blues Singing In The Rain As Champions

Newcastle Herald

Friday January 18, 2008

By NEIL GOFFET

RAIN could not dampen the celebrations of NSW Country after they were crowned champions of Australian country cricket after yesterday's washout against Queensland Country at Mackay.

The match was to decide the winner of the Australian Country Cricket Championships, but persistent rain in North Queensland wiped out any hopes of a home-town victory.

The win was even sweeter for NSW Country captain Jeff Cook, who was playing in his first championships after moving to Tamworth in 2006.

Cook enjoyed a long career in Sydney grade cricket and played first-class cricket for Northamptonshire before moving to Tamworth as a Cricket NSW regional cricket officer.

NSW have not won the carnival since 2000-01 in Albany, Western Australia, and the only surviving member of that successful team was Merewether and Newcastle captain Simon Moore.

Moore was one of five Newcastle players in the NSW Country squad this year.

Cardiff-Boolaroo batsman Anthony Hobson, Wallsend all-rounder Nathan Price and Belmont captain Matthew Frith made their debut at the championships.

University opening batsman Robert Faraday-Bensley played in his second consecutive carnival and made the Australian Country XI for the second year in succession.

NSW Country defeated South Australia, East Asia Pacific and Victoria Country to lead Queensland by less than one point.

The last five days of the carnival were washed out. NSW Country were scheduled to play Western Australia and Queensland in two-day games in that time, and the Australia Country match against the Queensland Bulls was also cancelled.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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