Sport
17 March, 2026
Carisbrook and Colts luck out of under 16 finals
Carisbrook and Colts Phelans were unable to turn impressive home and away seasons into semi-final upsets last weekend, with both local teams knocked out of the Castlemaine and District Cricket Association under 16 junior competition.
The Colts and Carisbrook entered their semi-finals as underdogs, looking to overcome premiership favourites Muckleford and Castlemaine United Gold after they each scored 66 points in the regular season.
After losing in the semi-final against Castlemaine United Gold last season, the Colts were keen to go one step further in 2025/26, as they travelled to Muckleford to play the undefeated ladder-leaders.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, Colts captain and A grade regular with Clunes Brett Coon gave his team the perfect start, removing opener Jack Smith for a duck with the fourth ball of the innings, thanks to a Hudson Broad catch.
The hosts were able to quickly recover from their immediate setback, with Seth Gross, Francis Walls and Callum McGee all scoring above 30.
With their opponents threatening to score an insurmountable total, the Colts’ attack kept pushing, with Broad and Killian McDougall taking two wickets while Judd Ross also stood out with 1/23 and three maidens from eight overs as Muckleford finished their 40 overs on 9/191.
Coon attempted to give the Colts an electric start with a rapid fire of five fours on his way to hitting 25, but two wickets inside seven overs gave Muckleford the edge.
Brock Twentyman, McDougall and Broad all batted well for the visitors, but the Muckleford attack proved too much for the Colts, who were bowled out for 101.
Carisbrook looked to fare better at Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve, where they played Castlemaine United Gold in their semi-final.
Castlemaine captain Charlie Cordy was in fine form for the favourites, finishing the first innings unbeaten on 61.
While Carisbrook didn’t have a solution for Cordy, their bowlers were outstanding in the first innings, having Castlemaine all out for 136 thanks to Joshua Nalder’s 3/13 and four maidens from eight overs and Zac Jardine’s 3/18.
Openers Rory Sanders and William Lendon looked poised to set the foundations for Carisbrook’s run chase until wickets from Castlemaine’s Zane Davidge and Otis Whitesmith had Carisbrook in danger of elimination at 5/54.
Charlie Jardine stepped up for Carisbrook, scoring 28 as part of a solid partnership with Billy Rumpff, but Castlemaine did an excellent job bowling at the tail, booking their place in the Grand Final after bowling Carisbrook for 106.