Cricket North under-16s: Mowbray win premiership

Cricket was described as a "funny game" by Mowbray captain Thomas Dwyer earlier this week and it rang true in the match, with the Eagles staving off a major batting collapse and the Blues' quality bowling line-up.

Sitting comfortably at 1-86 chasing the Blues' 117, Mowbray lost 6-4, swinging the game in Riverside's favour for arguably the first time.

But the lower order of Alex Cassidy (12) and Thomas Fryett (five) saw them home, capitalising on the 81-run second-wicket partnership between Will Barns (43) and Thomas Dwyer (33).

The pair steadied the ship after an early Aidan O'Connor wicket, hitting the bad balls and ticking the strike over as the Eagles looked like they were cruising to victory before the collapse.

In the Blues' batting innings, early wickets put the home side in a situation they hadn't been in all year.

First-grade player O'Connor was dismissed for just the third time in under-16 competition before Fletcher Reid and Alex Tubb followed suit cheaply - leaving their side teetering at 3-11.

O'Connor's opening partner Kaidyn Apted and Rudi Schoenmaker were left to pick up the pieces until a run out saw the latter dismissed for 16 after a 27-run stand.

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Archie Edwards joined Apted at the crease and the two put on 65 runs before Edwards was caught trying to accelerate the scoring, making 23 off 25 balls.

It looked like Apted wouldn't have a secure enough partner, but the opening batsman finished unbeaten on 53 off 84 balls, surviving the Blues' innings of five run outs.

Cricket North's head of junior development Mike Doherty credited the Eagles on a strong win after the game.