HAYDEN Essery batted three times for North Coast in the State-wide Kookaburra Cup under 14 cricket competition at Griffith.
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He managed 20 in his first dig, followed up by a duck and one.
Fortunately selectors named the Razarbacks side to take part in trials for the State team at Dubbo next week after the first game. Hayden's 20 was enough to get him a place in the side to play at Dubbo.
Hayden was recently named the Manning River Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week, earning a $20 open order at Iguana.
North Coast struggled at Griffith, losing all three matches. Hayden batted at four and not his usual place of opening. However, there was a top order collapse and Hayden was at the crease after just two overs in the opening clash. Hayden and fellow Manning player Harry Croker did their best to resurrect the innings when compiling a 70 run partneship. Harry top scored with 50. He wasn't available for higher selection because he has commitments with the Newcastle Knights junior rugby league program.
"Harry's a bit unlucky,'' Hayden admitted.
While he missed out in the next two games, Hayden was still 'pretty confident' of his chances of heading to the State playoffs.
He isn't sure about his chances at of making the NSW team.
"It'll be hard, I dunno,'' he replied.
"I'll just do my best.''
Hayden's had a busy summer at club and representative level. He plays with Wingham under 16s and third grade on Saturdays, while he's also a member of the Manning under 14s.
He opens the batting in the 16s, where his top score is 41 not out, while he has a high of 66 in third grade, where he's the side's second highest run getter, where he usually bats down the order.
Playing twice a day doesn't faze him.
"I get to play more cricket,'' he said.
He also opens the bowling in the 16s.
"I bowl anywhere they need me to,'' he added.
Hayden plays rugby league with the Wingham Tigers in the Group Three Juniors during winter.
"We didn't have enough players in my age group so I had to play up a grade last year,'' he said.
"Hopefully we'll have enough for an under 14s this season.''