Cricket
31 October, 2025
Junior cricketers open season
The Horsham Cricket Association 2025/26 junior season got underway on October 24 and 25, with several young cricketers starring across the grades.
The under-16 competition opened on Friday evening, with the Bullants, the Blackheath Dimboola Bulls and Dunmunkle Renegades earning round one victories.
At Noradjuha Recreation Reserve, Homers elected to bat first against the Bullants, reaching 7/85 in just under 21 overs.
Opener Henry Walsgott led Homers with 40 runs off 48 balls, with the wickets shared among six of the Bullants bowlers, including 1/4 from Chase Whelan.
The Bullants chased down the total in 16 overs, finishing at 4/87 to win by six wickets.
Whelan backed up his bowling with a team-high 32 runs off just 25 balls, including five boundaries.
At Coughlin Park, the Horsham Saints elected to bat, but the Bulls’ bowling attack limited the Saints to 8/53 in just under 20 overs.
Tailender James Mackereth top scored with eight not out, while Charlie Taylor (2/4) and Dane Paech (2/5) led the impressive bowling effort.
In return, Blackheath Dimboola finished 2/84 from just 12 overs, led by Max Spokes (retired 39 not out) and Albert Schorback (retired 23 not out).
Mackereth was the pick of the Saints bowlers as he finished with 1/3 from two overs.
At Minyip Recreation Reserve, the Renegaes elected to bat first against the Tigers on their home turf and finished with 5/143 off 22 overs.
Openers Hugh Weidemann (retired 50 not out) and Luke Weidemann (32) set up the innings, while Sid Kingston hit 17 not out off just 11 balls.
Amongst the Tigers' wicket takers, Finn Shannon finished with 1/15.
In return, Joel Plazzer (48) and Isaac Hogan (40 not out) put in impressive batting efforts for the Tigers, but fell 21 runs short of the Renegades as they totalled 2/122.
Hugh Weidemann (1/6) and Ryder Hudson (1/15) were the Renadages’ wicket takers.
The under-14s played on Saturday morning, with the Bullants, the Tigers and Dunmunkle Renegades each getting the four points.
Playing at home, the Bullants registered 2/112 from 17 overs, with captain Judd Oakley leading the side with 20 not out amidst various contributions, while Blackheath Dimboola’s Edward Schorback had figures of 2/18.
A strong Bullants bowling effort limited the Bulls to 4/34 in return.
Archie Ward let the side with seven runs, while the Bullants’ Jazz Hopper (1/2 of two overs) impressed in the economical team bowling effort.
At Coughlin Park, the Saints elected to bowl against the Tigers, who finished their 20 overs with 0/131.
Five of the Tigers batsmen finished retired not out, including impressive knocks from Bailey Dridan (23) and Peter Smith (20), while Jack Sawyer, Max Sproule and Chaz Schmidt had economical bowling efforts for the Saints.
In response, the Saints finished with 4/30 from their 20 overs, led by a retired 10 not out from James Mackereth, while Bridan led the Tigers’ bowling performance with figures of 2/1 off his three overs.
At Nhill Park, West Wimmera sent the Renegades in to bat, who finished with 7/102.
Braxton Starick led the way for the visitors with 28 runs off just 13 balls, including two sixes, while Jack Dodds (2/7) and Clayton Hiscock (2/21) led the Warriors' bowling unit.
West Wimmera fell 22 runs short in their run chase as they totalled 7/80, led by 25 runs from Jack Dodd.
Jagger Williams finished with figures of 2/7 for the Renegades.