Moree Public School students Riley Bettington and Archie Matthews were two of 12 players chosen to represent the North West at the state cricket championships, to be held in Orange from November 20 to 23.

Both boys hail from cricketing families, and are a step closer to following in the footsteps of their talented relations – Archie’s grandfather Rob Matthews played for the Emus and was an opening batsman with Australian legend Doug Walters, while Riley’s uncle Peter Ingram played for New Zealand.

Riley and Archie, along with fellow Moree Public School cricketer Tom Watts, attended the North West selection trials in Tamworth on Monday, May 8, after being selected in the northern team at the northern zone trials earlier this year.

Unfortunately, Tom narrowly missed out on selection for the North West side.

This is the first time Riley and Archie have made it this far in the school representative system after both went to the northern trials last year.

For the past three years Riley has made it to the North West trials at Tamworth, so he was thrilled to finally progress to the next level.

Moree Public School cricket coach Brett Cooper said both Riley and Archie, captain and vice captain of their school team, are deserving of a spot on the side.

“They’re extremely keen and dedicated and always turn up to training,” he said.

“They’re the older boys in the team and help the younger boys out as well.”

Archie and Riley will attend training in Tamworth with North West coach Peter Meade leading up to the state championships in November. While neither has their hopes up about state selection, they are both looking forward to representing the North West and playing their best.

“I just want to go there to play cricket,” Archie said.