Two students from St Columba’s College have made the under 15s NSW All Schools Cricket Team.
Ben Tracey from Springwood and Ryley Smith from Glenbrook travelled to Queensland on Saturday to spend eight days competing in the School Sport Australia National Championships.
It follows a rigorous selection process which began in September. The boys made the NSW Combined Catholic College Cricket Team, then competed against the state’s best cricketers from public and private schools at trials in December and January, to make the final cut.
The boys are part of the 26-player squad, making up the teams NSW Green and NSW Magenta.
Training has stepped up in preparation, with the duo travelling to Blacktown weekly, in addition to trial games and local cricket commitments.
“It should be good to have a break and play each other,” Ryley said. “It will help my cricket, the better level of competition."
Ben was “looking forward to seeing the level other states are at.”
Games against all the other states will be played on the Sunshine Coast, with the finals to be played in Brisbane.
Both boys play for Springwood, as well as grade cricket for Penrith. Ben is a spin bowler playing sixth grade, and Ryley is a batter and wicket keeper in fourth grade. When they return home they will contest the finals in their respective teams.
