Playing at No. 3 Oval, the Riverina/Western boys were again made to work hard for the victory but a fine spell of bowling from Dubbo’s Hugh Ridley helped the Greg McLay-coached side comfortably defend its total of 132.

Every fast bowler at this week’s under 13s and under 14s State Challenge at Dubbo and Wellington must have at least one day off to maintain a safe workload and after sitting out Monday’s game, Ridley took 4/13 from 6.3 overs against the Country Sixers Central Coast/Newcastle.

“He’s a left-arm bowler, which is a real positive for him, he’s tall, which is a positive for him, and he hits the seam, which is excellent,” McLay said of Ridley.

“He’s got a bit of scope, too. When he develops and gets a bit stronger he’ll get faster so I think he’s a very good prospect.”

Earlier, Ridley’s Dubbo and Western Zone teammate Tom Coady again top-scored, this time making a gritty 43 from 77 balls.

All of the Central Coast/Newcastle bowlers did a job and runs were hard to come by.

While pleased with his side’s total, and yet another example of Coady’s talent, McLay confessed he would have liked a total closer to 150.

“Tom batted for a period of time in the middle overs where they bowled well and he couldn’t get away,” McLay said.

“But the next thing for him is to be there at the end. There was still six overs left when he got out and he’s a quality player but he needs to know about game management and know he’s got more time left.

“But, I think because he’s done so much for his age, we do have high expectations for him.”

Albury’s Miles Hemann-Petersen (28) was the next best and after the break his side’s bowlers began brilliantly.

Central Coast/Newcastle never got away against the Ridley-led attack and the pressure built led to four runouts before another Dubbo bowler, spinner Paddy Nelson, finished it off with 2/16 from five overs.

“The most pleasing thing is the amount of improvement,” McLay said.

Riverina/Western plays two Twenty20 matches on Wednesday and victories there will ensure a place in Thursday’s final.

City Thunder West and Country Sixers Northern are also undefeated in the under 14s.

In the under 13s, Country Thunder Riverina/Western suffered defeat in both of its Twenty20 matches on Tuesday.

Country Sixers Northern won by 23 runs in the morning and then Riverina/Western lost to City Thunder West by three wickets in the afternoon.

Dubbo’s Anthony Atlee top-scored in the second game while Wagga’s Jake Scott was one of the side’s best on the day.

Scott top-scored with 31 in the first match and took 1/21 before following that up with 2/10 from three overs in the afternoon match.

City Sixers North and City Thunder West are the undefeated under 13s sides.

Under 14s – 40-over matches

Country Thunder Riverina/Western 132 def Country Sixers Central Coast/Newcastle 106

City Thunder West 3/124 def City Sixers North 123

City Thunder South 3/135 def City Sixers East 9/134

Country Sixers Northern 8/185 def Country Thunder Southern 109

Under 13s – Twenty20 matches

Morning round

Country Sixers Northern 7/109 def Country Thunder Riverina/Western 9/86 

City Sixers North 6/104 def City Thunder South 6/103

City Thunder West 9/86 def Country Sixers Northern 7/109

Country Sixers Central Coast/Newcastle 1/60 def Country Thunder Southern 7/58

Afternoon round

City Thunder West 7/63 def Country Thunder Riverina/Western 61

City Sixers North 2/106 def Country Sixers Central Coast/Newcastle 100

City Sixers East 3/104 def Country Sixers Northern 6/103

Country Thunder Southern 6/65 def City Thunder South 5/66