Far North Coast Thunder's side reached the final of the L J Hooker Ballina Under 13 Cricket Carnival, a contest involving sixteen cricket associations.

Among the FNC Thunders' scalps was the North Shore Junior Cricket Association, undefeated in the inaugural season of the Cricket NSW Metropolitan Youth Championship and winners of the WS Gee Shield, in the semi-final.

International umpire loves Lismore and its cricket carnival

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FNC Thunder, coached by Paul McLean, lost to Manly Warringah Junior Cricket Association in the final after putting the Sydney side into bat yesterday. It was the only defeat in five matches from the young boys from Lismore, Ballina, Kyogle and Queenscliff, who were too good for the best from Armidale, Brisbane North, the Central Coast and North Shore by eight wickets.

Thunder's Rory McLean, also the wicketkeeper, was the second highest run scorer in the carnival, and Zeke Mostert was the fourth-highest wicket taker with an average of 8.22 and he was very economical, going for just 2.83 runs per overs.

Then in the Lismore Under 12 Cricket Carnival, which featured 19 junior cricketing associations, Far North Coast Thunder's side went through the tournament undefeated. The side beat the best from North West Sydney, Hawkesbury, Hunter Valley and Lake Macquarie. They drew their final match against Penrith.

Kai Dalli, Far North Coast Thunder's captain, was named FNC's Player of the Carnival.

Thunder's Joe Parsons and Kai Dalli were the second and third highest run scorers and Harry Kershler was the fifth ranked bowler. Kai Dalli was named Far North Coast Cricket Academy's Player of the Carnival.

"Success breeds success and we are getting a good number of the youngsters in the higher representative teams," said McLean.

Five of his side - Sam Acret, Brayden Kernaghan, Oliver Walker, Rory McLean and Harry Doherty - have been chosen to represent Northern NSW at the Under 13 State Challenge in Dubbo from 20-23 January. Hamish Weekes, the Thunder's quick bowler, had been forced to pull out. Kernaghan will captain the Northern NSW side.

Rory McLean, as captain, and Kai Dalli represented NSW at Cricket Australia's SSA 12 and Under Cricket championships held in Adelaide last November.

"I told the boys that they should not forget the quality coaching they are getting - Grayson Kernaghan, Anthony Kershler, Pat Rosser and James Julius," said McLean.

"They are a pretty special group of kids. They are very easy to coach and they all keep in contact with each other and get along well. They will be together for a few years yet and only get better."

Far North Coast Cricket Academy Thunder U12 side went through the Lismore Carnival undefeated.

The Under 12 Thunder team was Riley Weir, Blake Perkins, Kai Dalli (captain), Lachlan Barnes, Cameron O’Donnell, Harry Kershler, James Rosser, Mathew Keys, Emily Hoskings, Harvey Moore, Brody Felton, Ben George, and Harvey Moore.

The Under 13 Thunder team was Rory McLean, Mana Hoggard, Harry Doherty, William Brown, Hamish Weekes, Thomas Batchelor, Jack Evers, Zeke Mostert, Sam Acret, Brayden Kernaghan, Kahn Johnson, Oliver Walker.

Norm Ryder is a bastion of Lismore cricket