This week we sat down with Orange City teenage sensation Blake Weymouth who at the tender age of just 17 already has two first grade titles to his name. This past season Blake managed to be his team’s leading run scorer with 367 runs at an average of just over 40. A huge effort for a kid who was just 16 and still in year 10 at school. Career wise, Blake has scored 5485 runs at an average of 35 which includes 6 centuries and a career best of 125 not out. He has been no mug with the ball either, thus far he has claimed 80 career wickets at an average of 16.09 and with career best figures of 5/24, not bad at all for an opening batter who balls some part time spin.
- Tell me about yourself, who is Blake Weymouth?
I would like to think Blake Weymouth is a 17 year old that loves his mates, especially loves his cricket and has one of the most supportive families going around, especially my mum, dad and sister. - What was it that first drew you to the game of cricket?
I loved watching cricket, I can’t remember the last time I had missed a live match on television, my dad was a big influence to me to become a cricketer and most importantly me being a left hander. - What’s your best memory from playing cricket?
For me it is a toss-up between two different events. The first one being, winning the grand final in first grade when no one outside of the club thought we could win it, also scoring my first, first grade ton at the age of 15, that was pretty special. - What has been the hardest/ worst moment on a cricket field?
Not making the country side when I had worked so hard for all season, still to this day I regret not putting that extra 1% in at training that I know I could of put in, that may have made the difference and got me selected. - What’s your Cricket strength? What do you bring to your team / club?
Well, I am an opening batsmen. So when I go out to bat I look to ensure that I can bat for hours on end to put the team in a good position and hopefully win games. - What’s the best and worst thing about playing cricket in country NSW?
Best thing is club spirit and how competitive everyone gets during games, everyone wants to win. The worst thing is there isn’t many sport facilities that are up to city standards, although there is a new facility being built here in Orange which is great. When the Centre is built it should really help push Orange Cricket along as people can then train regularly in winter and not worry about the weather. - Your one of the best young talents in the western region, how much work goes into developing your game?
I would train with my club for 2 days a week and train with my dad and or my mates for another two days, having that work ethic and desire to be one of the best drives me to become greater every session. Each session, I go into wanting to work on some part of my game which I feel I need to fix to allow me to push to that next level.
Who has been the biggest influence on your game?
Easily my dad, no question! He was a City boys himself and gave me my love of the game. - What is it that you’d like to achieve in the game that you haven’t?
My current goal is to be selected and Play for the NSW countryside. So that is my next big target, however, for next season in Orange, I want to push myself to become the best and most consistent batter in Orange. It’s a big goal, but with dedication and hard work, I believe I can make it happen. - What the best thing about playing for Orange City?
At Orange City, we are a very competitive club which is what you want in a club, no one wants to be losing and to be happy with losing. But for me the best thing is the whole club gets together after a game and goes to the Parkview (Pub) and has a laugh, team spirit is a big thing in my books. If the team and club has a good spirit about it, then that certainly helps to put together wins on the field.
Well that was Blake Weymouth from the Orange City cricket Club in NSW. If anyone either in Australia or overseas would like to know more about the Club than they can be contacted on Facebook @ Orange City Cricket Club.
Next week, we sit down and chat with Matthew Tedeschi, the man who has orchestrated a huge revival in the Centrals Cricket Clubs fortunes in recent years and the current club president.
