Who: Queanbeyan v Eastlake (day two)

Where: Kingston Oval

When: Saturday, 11am

THE Queanbeyan Bluebags have been boosted by the midseason recruitment of talented young all-rounder Jacob Montgomery.

The 17-year-old joined Queanbeyan from Newcastle club Wallsend last week and made an immediate impact on debut against Eastlake on Saturday.

Montgomery returned figures of 1/17 (8) with the ball before compiling 27 batting at first drop to help Queanbeyan to a first innings score of 3/102 in response to Eastlake’s total of 204.

The teenager came to Queanbeyan’s attention through his time with the ACT development program where he is currently trialling with Cricket ACT’s under-19s squad for next year’s nationals.  

Despite living in Newcastle, Montgomery has spent the past two years as part of the ACT program and represented the territory at last year’s under-17s nationals in Hobart.

But with his high school studies now complete, the former Newcastle Central Coast representative player said he had taken the chance to relocate to Canberra in a bid to better pursue his representative ambitions.  

“Last year I was travelling from Newcastle a bit, coming down to Canberra for trainings and things but doing my HSC this year, I wasn’t able to travel as much,” he said.

“I’ve tried to stay in contact [with the Comets program] this year but it’s been a bit hard living so far away.

“That’s one of the reasons I decided to move down now that I’ve finished my HSC. I figured I probably have a bit of work to make up.”

The length of Montgomery’s stay in Queanbeyan colours remains yet to be determined and rests largely on where he pursues his university studies next year.

In the short term however, he timing of his arrival has proved especially fortuitous for Queanbeyan with captain Aaron Ayre struggling to overcome a finger injury.

Ayre’s injury saw Montogmery slot straight in to his preferred number three position against Eastlake where he put in an assured display at the crease before being dismissed with the close of play in sight.

Teammate Josh Connolly was Queanbeyan’s best taking 4-59 before hitting an unbeaten 52 to leave the match delicately poised.