McInnes proud of his champion Colts young guns following another premiership win

While back-to-back premierships and match-winning performances have defined a remarkable season for the Sign Print Stitch Narrabri Colts, it is the side’s emerging teenage talent that has captured the admiration of the local cricket community since the club formed in 2024.

Week after week, the youngsters at the club have shown maturity beyond their years, rising to the challenge in high-pressure moments and playing a pivotal role in the team’s success.

Their development, resilience, and passion for the game have not only strengthened the Colts on the field but have also cemented them as a source of pride for the future of cricket in Narrabri, especially given that a three-team competition was a possibility in the 2024/25 campaign.

The project of NDCA veteran Mick Dowdell, the Colts have not only filled that void, but they have emerged as the team to beat in the NDCA’s second grade division.

From back-to-back premierships, to Kyne Allen stepping up to captain in the T20 competition and in David McInnes’ absence, to Lucas Dowdell taking on the wicket-keeper role, to Michael Harris-Clayton becoming one of the town’s up and coming opening bowlers, and to Gus Ford claiming the top wicket-taker gong with 31 scalps, it is clear that the Colts’ rise has been built on the growth and belief of its young core.

Their skipper told The Courier it had been an honour to be their captain and their teammate over the past two seasons.

“Words can’t describe how proud I am of each and every one of these kids,” McInnes said.

“I’m proud of the way they have stepped up from juniors to senior cricket.

“They all had a great season, but there were a couple of standouts this year too.

“Hopefully a lot of the group will stay together for next season, but some of the young ones might venture off and try first grade.

“That is what the whole goal of the club is.

“It started from Mick’s idea to get a group of kids together and get another second grade team in the comp, and to try and get juniors into second grade cricket.

“Now we’ve been in three finals and won all of them.”

The Colts skipper said he was pleased with the way his entire side stood up in Saturday’s decider.

“It was a good, close, tight game. A good game to be a part of,” McInnes said.

“I felt we were reasonably in control in the second innings, especially with Mick still to come, but maybe at one stage it might have started to get a bit close when we needed a run a ball.

“We lost about 6-30 at one stage there.

“Kyne and Mick at the end there had a good partnership to get us home.

“We bowled and fielded really well. We were really upbeat in the field.

“Gus bowling Jesse (Tatts skipper, Jesse Packer) was the turning point. It was the big moment of the game for us. We had focused on not letting him get away because we’ve put him down before and he’s gone on to score big runs.”