Wagga's young O'Farrell Cup side misses final after loss to CAW Hume

Cricket Albury-Wodonga (CAW) Hume proved too good at Robertson Oval on Sunday, reversing last season's result to set up a clash with holders CAW Provincial later this month.

Captain Tom Simmons is hoping the side can relish the underdogs title in the final after the 37-run victory.

"It was pretty tough going and with 170 on the board we were pretty lucky to get away with it in the end but we stuck to our guns and got it done," Simmons said.

"Considering we are a bunch of small town clubs it is pretty good.

"We're looking forward to it and will be massive underdogs but you never know."

Wagga looked to have the visitors in trouble at 4-61 before Corey McCarthy turned the match with a blistering innings.

He finished unbeaten on 65 and with support from Simmons (23), Darcy I'Anson (21) and his older brother Kieren McCarthy (16 not out), CAW Hume recovered to post 6-178 from their 50 overs.

Sam Perry took 4-35 off his 10 overs.

Wagga then struggled for momentum in their batting order after I'Anson snared captain Josh Thompson (2) and Jacson Sommerville (14) with consecutive balls in the 11^th over.

South Wagga pair Jake Scott (56) and Joel Robinson (40) tried to repair the damage before Robinson became the first of three victims for Shannon Terlich after a sharp catch from Todd Hannam broke their 57-run partnership.

Robinson's dismissal triggered a collapse as Wagga lost 5-19.

Teenagers Scott and Angus Grigg (16 not out) put on 39 for the ninth-wicket partnership to offer Wagga a glimmer of hope, but with the run rate climbing the pressure became too much as Mark Kreutzberger took two wickets in the 47^th over to finish the match with Wagga bowled out for 141.

Thompson thought his side was simply outplayed.

"I thought they played good cricket," he said.

"It sucks with blokes not making themselves unavailable but we did as good as we could with what we had."

Thompson only returned to O'Farrell Cup cricket this season but was disappointed with how he struggled to get the competition's best players onto the field.

A large number of experienced cricketers declined to play so instead Wagga lined up with six debutants.

Five of the newcomers are no older than 20, including 14-year-old Kooringal Colts wicketkeeper Shaun Smith, who was a late replacement for current Riverina player Brayden Ambler.

"It is a personal preference and you can't make the best players play," Thompson said.

"You just play with however makes themselves available and at the end of the day it is their opportunity."