North Albury’s English import George McCormick had an early birthday present when he snared his first senior hat-trick – and second overall – against East Albury.

McCormick turns 19 on Friday.

A product of Nantwich in Cheshire, McCormick was delighted when he ripped through Kris Milosta, Eddy Ziebarth and Luke Brunckhorst.

“That guy who opened the batting (Milosta) was going quite well and he mistimed one to square leg,” he said of the hard-hitting opener.

“The next guy (Ziebarth), the ball was outside off-stump, swinging away and the guy edged to the keeper.

“With the next guy I just tried to get it full. It him him on the pads and everyone went up and the umpire took his time, but it was good when the finger went up and we celebrated.”

McCormick finished with 6-34 to sit second on the wicket-taker’s list, behind Lavington’s David Tassell (12).

The right-arm fast-medium bowler now has 11 at 10.36.

LACHIE’S LEGACY

Belvoir might have fallen to Tallangatta, but there’s signs one of its young guns is starting to make his way at first-grade level.

Lachie McMillan scored just 59 runs last season, batting anywhere between number two and 11.

He’s now settled in the middle order and is coming off his two highest scores.

McMillan started with a classy 49 against Wodonga and followed that with a gritty 26 against Tallangatta.

The fact he’s made those runs against two impressive attacks augurs well for the youngster.

MR CONSISTENCY

Wodonga’s side has just got stronger this season with Tom Johnson’s move to the top order.

Johnson has scored the second-highest number of runs in the 50-over rounds, racking up 157 at 52.

He started with an unbeaten 59 against Wodonga Raiders, made 12 against East Albury, 37 facing Belvoir and then 49 against Albury on Saturday.

He also struck 39 in his only T20 game against Lavington.

Unfortunately, Johnson will be forced to miss December as he undergoes surgery later this month following a horror dislocated ankle and broken leg playing for Wodonga in Ovens and Murray football last year.

Johnson will return after Christmas so the prospect of a team boasting the former South Australian Country all-rounder, the association’s single-season run-scoring record-holder Robbie Jackson and the damaging Jack Craig in the top order –  along with Australian Country Merit paceman Cameron Suidgeest and fellow quick Byron Hales – will take some stopping.

Wodonga hosts grand finalists North Albury on Saturday.