Cricket
14 November, 2025
Combine ready for Warriors test
The clash between the West Wimmera Warriors and Swifts-Great Western will headline round five of the Horsham Cricket Association A grade competition this Saturday.
The Warriors remain the only unbeaten side in the competition, and face yet another top-four team, having overcome Donald Jeffcott and the Bullants in consecutive weeks.
Leading the West Wimmera charge are brothers Brad and Nathan Alexander, currently the leading runscorer and wicket taker in the league, respectively.
Aiden Graveson, captain of Swifts-Great Western, said that despite his side having never played the Warriors as one of the Association’s new teams, his side is well aware of the danger the Alexanders pose.
“Being new to the league, we’re sort of coming into every game blind, not knowing what to expect and who is going to perform,” Graveson said.
“But we’ve been trying to keep track of results and asking around, and their two names (Brad and Nathan Alexander) have definitely come up.
“So we’re definitely going to try and nullify their impact for sure.”
Swifts-Great Western have impressed in the early stages of the season, currently holding a 3-1 record.
While Graveson is pleased his team is in the top half of the ladder, the skipper believes his team is yet to put together a complete performance.
“We’re feeling good, but I feel like we haven’t got all three of our batting, bowling and fielding right every week,” Graveson said.
“I feel as if we batted really well last week, bowled quite poorly and fielded better than we usually can.
“The loss against Laharum, we bowled and fielded really well, and then we were 1/80 before being bowled out for about 120, so I think we’ve really struggled to get all three to work together in one day.
“In saying that, we’ve definitely had a lot of positives too, like Jack Cann having a good innings last week after struggling to make runs the first few rounds, because he’s quite a good bat when he gets going.”
Graveson hopes that his side can bring it all together on Saturday, believing a win over the Warriors will put the league on notice.
“I think we can really push West Wimmera if we get all three to work,” Graveson said.
“This is going to be a big game this weekend with them being on top.
“In a ten-side competition where only four make finals, it’s crucial to try and scalp a team like West Wimmera, who are the team to beat at the moment.
“To be a new team in the league and beat them, it sends a message to the league.” Elsewhere in Saturday A grade matches, Lubeck Murtoa will host the Bullants at Murtoa Recreation Reserve.
The Mudlarks enter the game with a 2-2 record, while the Bullants will hope to return to top form after suffering their first defeat last Saturday to the Warriors.
As well as having the home ground advantage, Lubeck Murtoa will feel encouraged by their close loss to Donald Jeffcott, one of the form teams early in the 2025-26 season.
Mudlarks all-rounder Shannon Reddie looms as a key player in the match, as he is currently the second-highest runscorer (175 runs) in the competition, while also having seven wickets through four matches.
At Sunnyside Recreation Reserve, Laharum will look to continue its winning form against St Mary’s.
The Demons have had one of the toughest draws to start their season, having played four of the current top five teams in the opening four rounds.
But a victory over Brim Kellalac Sheep Hills (Brim KSH) to follow up their defeat of Swifts-Great Western has them primed for finals contention going forward.
Conversely, Warracknabeal-based St Mary’s are yet to win a game, but have shown promise with both bat and ball, most notably Aiden Keys, who, along with Nathan Alexander, leads the competition in wickets taken.
The Horsham Tigers continue their search for a first win when they go against Brim KSH at Horsham City Oval.
After a couple of disappointing batting performances, the Tigers demonstrated some resolve against Swifts-Great Western and will need to do so again against a strong Eagles bowling unit.
Tim Bell, Lachlan McGinniss, and Charlie Dean have each taken five or more wickets at an average under 10, and were all sorely missed in their loss to Laharum, a result Brim KSH will hope to reverse on Saturday.
At Dudley Cornell Park, the Colts will look to challenge newcomer Donald Jeffcott.
The Colts will be buoyed after recording their first victory in round four, but meet a 3-1 Donald Jeffcott team that has multiple players who have impressed with the bat, including two of the top five run scorers in Koby Westerland and Dylan Ruurds.
In B grade, the Colts will host Brim KSH at Dudley Cornell Park, the Horsham Saints host Donald Jeffcott at Coughlin Park, the in-form Tigers go against the Bullants at Noradjuha Recreation Reserve, St Mary’s host the Rup-Minyip Panthers at Anzac Park, and West Wimmera travel to Stawell to take on Swifts-Great Western at Central Park.
In C grade, Rhymney Moyston hosts Natimuk at Moyston Recreation Reserve, Halls Gap hosts Laharum at Halls Gap Recreation Reserve, the Saints go against Quantong at Quantong Recreation Reserve, Lubeck Murtoa play Homers at Murtoa Recreation Reserve, and the Tigers host the Blackheath Dimboola Bulls at Dimboola Road Oval; Swifts-Great Western have the bye.