Now Ben Scowen is the only Manning representative in the North Coast side to play in the NSW Country Championships at Inverell starting November 3. Scowen, 23, understands he’ll bat in his preferred spot of three or four as North Coast look turn around some lean years at Country-level.

Scowen is the Manning River Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week, earning a $50 open order at Iguana.

He laid claims for a North Coast berth when he played for North Coast in a trial against Sydney first grade side Western Suburbs at Port Macquarie in September, where he scored 36. However, he will go into the Country Championships at little underdone following the cancellation of the T20 Regional Round last weekend, where Scowen was to be a member of the Macquarie Stingers side. He scored a half century in his most recent innings for Wingham in the Mid North Coast Premier League. 

“There’s going to be some quality cricketers at Inverell,’’ he said.

“It’s going to be interesting.’’

North Coast will play three 50 over games in the championship.

Scowen hails from Mount Gambier in South Australia. He went to boarding school in Adelaide for years 11 and 12 to improve his cricketing and AFL deverlopment, saying at the time he was probably rated a better footballer than a cricketer. While there he played in a cricket club side that boasted three members of the South Australian squad and he regularly practiced with players including Phil Hughes and Adam Zampa. After leaving school he returned to the family dairy farm in Echuca in northern Victoria. Scowen then had a six month stay in England where he played against the great English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff among others.

By this time his family had purchased a dairy near Wingham, so Scowen arrived in the Manning and played for Wingham last season. He considered a move to the Newcastle competition for this summer, however, the introduction of the Mid North Coast Premier League convinced him to stay here. He now captains Wingham.

Scowen admits he’s not sure where the future will take him although he would eventually like to return to Adelaide.

“I really miss the AFL,’’ he said.

“Where I come from it was AFL, AFL, AFL, there was no rugby league or anything. Now the closet club is in Port Maquarie and there’s a lot of travel there to play in Grafton and Coffs Habour.

“I work on weekends, so that makes it difficult.’’

However, his immediate thoughts are on Inverell and a strong showing for North Coast at the Country Championships.