PORT Macquarie's Coastline Blues under 16s side came agonisingly close to a Weetbix Twenty20 competition win on Sunday.
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The Blues fell 21 runs short of Normanhurst-Wirrawee's total at the Sydney Cricket Ground but still did Port Macquarie and regional cricket proud.
The side was on track at 4-79 in the 14th over and chasing 138, but a couple of quick wickets fell and put the Blues behind.
They slumped to 7-116 after their 20 overs.
Luke Rogers made 33, Jackson Gordon 25 and Kade Fens 21.
Coach Mat Fens had one word after the match, according to supporter and parent Brett Gallagher.
"'Bugger', was what he said," Gallagher said.
Normanhurst-Wirrawee lost just four wickets earlier. One was a run out and the Blues' three bowlers took a single wicket each on a deck that played true.
The players had a once in a lifetime experience at the ground. They got to walk around the members' area and Australian team dressing room.
The parents had the privilege of sitting in the members' stand.
"The boys were looking around the place with their eyes and mouths open," Gallagher said.
The Blues' finish their 50-over match against the Hastings Barbarians this weekend. They are bowling on the second day.
Then there are four more weeks of the Brett Lee competition left.
Gallagher predicted a finals spot for the youngsters.
"They're doing pretty well," he said.
He also said junior cricket in the area was going gangbusters at the moment.
"A number of our guys had done well at representative level," he said.