IT’S been four years since a tragic car accident took the life of promising young cricketer Luke Bush.
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The 18-year-old was a talented sportsman who played cricket for both Goulburn and Queanbeyan and although gone, his legacy remains strong within the cricket community.
First with the Luke Bush Rising Star award, presented annually by the ACT Comets, and secondly with the Queanbeyan Cricket Club’s Luke Bush young player of the year award.
2014 brought a new addition, with the Queanbeyan Cricket Club hosting the inaugural Luke Bush Shield.
The shield saw emerging talent from Queanbeyan and Goulburn districts compete in an under-13s and an under-15s side for two games in T20 format at Queanbeyan’s Freebody Oval.
After Queanbeyan swept both games in the two age groups in the first round earlier last month, Goulburn looked to bounce back last Sunday.
The Bluebags, however, proved too strong and claimed inaugural bragging rights with a series clean sweep.
“Hopefully what comes out of it is that if in a couple of years there’s a good 17-year-old kid in Goulburn who wants to come down to Canberra, then his first point of call is Queanbeyan,” shield organiser and Queanbeyan cricket stalwart Michael Frost said.
“The kids will know the club, they’ll know the facilities that we’ve got here and so it’s just about keeping those connections going.”
The second round of matches saw an under-13s Queanbeyan side hit two runs of the second last ball of the match to win by a run.
Goulburn had won the toss and batted first scoring 71 runs from 20 overs.
The Bluebags’ Tom McNamara helped restrict Goulburn to what seemed a modest score with some tight bowling, and took 2/3 from his opening two overs.
He was well supported by Jack Mines, Duane Bush and Abhinash Kumar, who each took a wicket.
The Bluebags then went about chipping away at the Goulburn total with skipper Lachlan Squire top scoring with 21.
Man of the match was shared between Queanbeyan’s Tom McNamara and Goulburn’s Marley Robinson who made 13 runs and took 2/4.
The under-15s match saw Queanbeyan also reap inaugural honours.
Queanbeyan were sent in first and made a solid 129 with the help of wicket keeper / batsman Riley Hughes who made 63 not out.
Goulburn were unfortunately, unable to reach the total, and was only able to make 83.
However there were signs of promise for Goulburn with many praising Crookwell talent Oliver Anable, who although didn’t take a wicket, gave an indication of real future promise.
“Beautiful action, beautiful run up and he was bowling with tremendous pace for a young kid,” Frost said of young Anable.
The concept and format of the Shield was well received by both cricket organisations and looks to continue next year.
Luke Bush’s father, Michael Bush, was on hand to present the trophy to the winning club in honour of his son.