SUNDAY saw Junior Country Week grand finals contested across the North East, after a busy and sometimes interrupted week of junior cricket.

Out of seven local junior teams, only one side made it to a grand final, with the Under 13 WDCA Blue squad taking on CAW Stars for the Graham Kerr Shield at Noreuil Park, Albury.

Wangaratta were favourites to take out the title, having finished on top of the table and remained undefeated through the group stage.

However, the WDCA couldn’t get the job done, bowled out for 122 chasing CAW’s 7/201.

Stars won the toss and batted, with opener Archie Rhodes retiring not out after making a half century off 69 deliveries.

Thomas Sealey ripped through the top order, finishing with respectable figures of 3/35 from his allotment of eight overs.

Jordan Knight was also in the wickets, taking 2/40 from seven overs, while Finn Mitchell (1/27 from five) and Billy McMahon (1/31 from seven) pitched in as well.

The Stars’ bats were firing, compiling a substantial total of 201 from their 40 overs.

With the required run rate a tick above five an over from the first ball, it was always going to be a tough chase.

Opener Angus Fraser was in good touch, carrying his bat for the entire innings on his way to 54* from 78 deliveries in a knock which included six fours and a six.

However, while he was belting the ball to all parts of the ground, wickets were falling at the other end.

WDCA Blue were in trouble after the first five overs at 3/17, with only three batters other than Fraser making it into double figures.

Taj Parker (14 from 12), Mitch McMasters (12 from 28) and Thomas Sealey (15 from 16) provided some resistance, but the consistent fall of wickets meant WDCA would be going home empty handed.