NO fewer than nine cricketers will return to local fixtures as North Queensland representatives today -- two more will play for NQ -- having impressed selectors in Mackay last weekend.

Among that list are fast bowlers, spinners, wicketkeepers, batsmen and players that do a bit of both.

They are young, old and in-between and together they have put the Far North back on the cricketing map.

A big fuss was made about the Open team winning their first Fred Jacobsen Trophy since 1998, but perhaps the more impressive feat was the under-17s first Warren Maher Shield in eight years.

It was the way they did it too, with coach Rob Reichardt labelling it a special win played in the right spirit.

Following on from their massive defeat of North Queensland a fortnight ago, the confident side demolished Central Queensland on Saturday and pipped Mackay by one wicket on Sunday to take the crown.

A blazing hundred from Travis Argoon (117 off 116) was the highlight in game one, before a brilliant rearguard partnership between bowlers Wade Matthews (32) and Jake Spannagle (45) saw them home in game two.

Chasing 192, Far North were in deep strife at 5-38 and then 8-116.

But the pair helped them to the target with eight balls to spare.

From that side Travis Argoon, David Coulthard, Mason Clarke, Andrew Phelps and Grant Phillips made the North Queensland side, that will play South Queensland in the Ron Bushby Shield next weekend.

Tom Edwards will be there too, but not before he travels with Cameron Duffy and the under-19 NQ side to Brisbane for the Platypus Shield this weekend.

Open NQ reps Gerard Fox, Linden March, Brenton Edwards and Michael Salerno will return for their clubs today, before playing South Queensland in the XXXX Country Cup on November 24-25.

NEW CAIRNS.COM.AU COMMENT POLICY
We welcome your comments on this story. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Comments submitted without a full name and suburb/location will not be considered for publication. Please read our full comment policy and publication guidelines.

Share this article