There’s been some very successful Raymond Terrace Junior Lions teams.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This group of Under 16s isn’t one of them.
Not in the traditional sense at least but what they might lack in raw talent they make up for in passion.
“They’re a good bunch to play with and the Raymond Terrace Cricket Club has given us a lot of opportunities,” 16-year-old Sam Price said.
“Once we get into seniors next season, we’ll all be split up according to skill and I’ll miss them, they’re good to be around.”
There’s a sense of nostalgia beyond their years.
Because many of them played their first game together in Kanga cricket at age five.
“There are some real personalities and we’re always there for each other – we’re really close knit,” Price said
Far from being a team without talent it simply hasn’t always been able to herd all its cats into the hunt at once.
They’ve made their share of semis, after all.
“We all have our different skills – things that we’re good at – but on the day we’re always at our cohesive best,” Price said.
“But we still all enjoy our cricket and the camaraderie. They’re a good bunch.”
Father Andrew Price has coached the team and he couldn’t pick fault with their dedication or sportsmanship.
“For one, they turn up for training and the way their skills have developed from those early days; to watch that has just been amazing,” he said.
“Our sundries used to be our biggest score but they have become more and more competitive.
“Even if they aren’t the most competitive team they do make the semis but they are up against some strong teams.”
Its been a team of underdogs that simply hasn’t found its fairy tale against-the-odds win.
“They’re not giant killers but they’re cricket tragics like many of us,” Price said,
Unprompted, his son contacted the Examiner to seek some publicity for his team in its final season.
Dad said he was a little embarrassed but not surprised.
“Sam should be doing publicity for whole club,” he said.
“What we have here could be the next round of committee members for this club, that’s how much they love the game.
“But for now they’re enjoying playing and that’s all that matters.”
The under 16s team for 2017-18 is comprised of: Ryan Jonovski, Josh Wells, Tristan Ormerod, Jackson Digby-Tape, Blake Hunter, Elias Wells, Jess Rigby, Luke Fisher, Blaire Soars, Kaiden Aroney and Sam Price.