“It was a big effort with the ball and in the field,” Randall Medd said. “We did really well, we kept our extras conceded to a minimum (only conceding 12) … we were quite happy, we felt we had kept them 40 or 50 runs below what they would have liked.”
Randall Medd doubles as Gilgandra Thunder 12A coach and also Gilgandra and District Junior Cricket Association president.
He added the club’s pathway, where young players begin in the 12B Lightning side and then progress to the 12A Thunder as they get older has resulted in improved results and development.
Gilgandra also had under-14s players play in a combined Wellington/Gilgandra under-14s side that made the DDJCA 14A semi-finals along with the 12B Lightning side and the young Blasters that play locally in Gilgandra. “They are starting young, but they’ve been playing three or four seasons and by the time they are in the Thunder side they are good little cricketers with confidence,” Randall said.
“It also means for the ones that are capable, there are representative opportunities (with Dub-bo). As a club, we have been punching above to make the last two 12A grand finals. I think we have exceeded our expectations this season.”
Losing players to boarding school and other sports commitments also presented challenges during the season.
Randall Medd said he would like to thank the parents for their dedication and commitment all season. He noted for children that live north, east or west of Gilgandra, they are often travelling around 100km one-way to matches in Dubbo, leaving around 6.30am to get to matches at 8am.
