Cricket
17 March, 2026
Combine claim thrilling grand final win
Swifts-Great Western claimed the Horsham Cricket Association B grade premiership following a nail-biting victory over the Rup-Minyip Panthers in the grand final, played at Coughlin Park over the weekend.
The Panthers won the toss and elected to bat, with youngsters Hugh Weidemann and Ryder Hudson making a steady start for the side before Hudson was dismissed for 26 in the 17th over.
Jake McKenzie and Weidemann got the side to 1/70 before the latter was dismissed for 31, igniting a flurry of wickets which saw the Panthers reach 5/87 after 44 overs.
Caeleb Leith got the runs flowing late in the innings, but a critical late-innings spell from the Combine’s Stewart MacPherson disrupted the momentum.
The Panthers were eventually bowled out for 144, where stumps were called.
Caeleb Leith finished with an unbeaten 48.
For the Lions, MacPherson finished with 4/34, while Jack Harney (2/7) and Tom Fitzgerald (2/24) each took two wickets.
Swift-Great Western commenced their run chase on day two but found themselves in trouble at 2/19.
Rick Oliver (26) and Matthew Delzotto (39) settled the innings before Delzotto and Stewart MacPherson (18) guided the side to 3/99 in the 34th over.
After Jake McKenzie took the key wicket of Delzotto, he and Leigh Funcke combined to spark a Lions collapse.
Under pressure at 8/120, veteran Tom Fitzgerald (30 not out), with the support of Matthew Dean (3 not out), helped guide Swifts-Great Western to 8/145, earning a two-wicket victory.
For the Panthers, Jake McKenzie finished with 3/27, while Leigh Funcke had 3/33.
Following his performance with the ball and middle-order contribution with the bat, Stewart MacPherson was named player of the match for the Lions.
Swifts-Great Western skipper Leon Moloney spoke with Wimmera Mallee News after the game and was happy with the disciplined bowling performance on day one.
“If you had said to me at the start of the day that we would bowl them out for 144, we would have taken that,” Moloney said.
“The pitch was a little bit up and down and a bit slow, but we bowled well, we bowled patiently, we bowled to our plans, and we thought that was definitely chaseable.
Moloney said he had confidence that Tom Fitzgerald could get the team home following the side’s middle-order collapse.
“We were three-for, and then those wickets went pretty quick,” Moloney said.
“The young kids (from the Panthers) were bowling really well.
“They were moving it around a bit, but they were just putting it in the right spots.
“Fitzy’s (Tom Fitzgerald) an old stager, and I thought if he was going to be there at the end, we were probably a chance to get it done.
“So, a good win all around.”
One of five new clubs to the association in the 2025-26 season, Moloney was asked about Swift-Great Western’s fantastic debut season in the HCA, with both B Grade and C Grade winning premierships, and the A Grade side making the semifinals.
“It was a bit of an unknown for us coming in how we would go, and we didn’t know any of the players,” Moloney said.
“That somewhat worked against us, but did work in our advantage as well, because they didn’t know us.
“It was a challenge, but it was good fun playing against different blokes.
“We’ve really enjoyed it and appreciate Horsham for giving us the opportunity.”
