Delungra's Rachael Kent has taken her cricketing career to yet another level after being part of an undefeated NSW team at the Australian Primary Schools Cricket Exchange last week.

The talented 12-year-old and her family spent the week in Cobram, Victoria, where Rachael played in the second round of the primary school's competition.

In a series of 25-over first round matches, Rachael's NSW team defeated all opponents from Victoria(VIC), South Australia (SA), and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

Rachael scored 30 runs in her match against the ACT, and bowled 2 for none. Rachael's NSW team won with a score of 5/139, and got the ACT out for 20. The NSW team bowled VIC out for 25, and defeated SA for 8/40.

To be part of the week-long tournament, Rachael said she had to try out for the North West team, and partake in training sessions at home in Delungra and with her team in locations such as Singleton and Sydney.

Rachael said she was happy to have achieved so much with her cricket, especially against her city counterparts. "It feels really, really good. I really like it when we play the city girls and get them out,” she said.

Rachael's father Graham Kent said he was very pleased with the way Rachael was playing and the way she was being treated by competition organisers. "The coaches, the managers – the way they're being looked after is unbelievable,” he said.

Rachael has been selected into a squad of 30 for a NSW development camp. Former Australian women's cricket captain Lisa Keightly will run the camp.

Rachael will be beginning Year 7 at Holy Trinity School this year and plans to continue her cricket. "I hope to play for as long as I can and play the best I can,” she said.

Rachael said when she returned home on January 20 or 21, she would continue playing Saturday cricket and would play for Holy Trinity School.

© 2003 Inverell Times

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