Sport
21 November, 2025
Raging Bulls set to host swooping Magpies
All eyes will be on the MDCA’s only A grade contest this weekend, as Clunes hope to enter themselves into the finals discussion at Goldfields Recreation Reserve against Beaufort.
While both teams are virtually out of the running for the one-day premiership, the Bulls currently hold the coveted fourth spot vital for finals qualification, in large part due to a tense 27-run victory over the Magpies.
With Clunes chasing 200 after a Brandon Walsh 50 and contributions from Theo Trevelyan-Clark and Jarrod Blandford, a combined six-wicket haul from Benjamin and Thomas Grant clipped Clunes’ feathers.
The Magpies have upgraded their personnel since that round two defeat, welcoming Ahmed Rehman and Ritik Yadav into the team, as well as undergone internal growth from their bats to complement their daunting bowling attack.
The Bulls’ own bowling lineup, consisting of Walsh, Trevelyan-Clark, Blandford, Oddie and the Grant’s, has been very comparable to the Magpies’ options of Yadav, Brett Coon, Noah and Dylan Davies, with both teams taking 44 wickets in the first six matches.
While Beaufort and Clunes possess a persistent punch with the ball, they also share the same weakness that’s plagued their upward trajectory this season.
Both teams rank in the bottom two for runs scored and wickets lost despite facing comparably similar overs to their counterparts, which has left them unable to capitalise on strong performances in the field.
Pursuing a target of 209 in their last fixture against Laanecoorie Dunolly, the Bulls showed promise thanks to a 97-run opening partnership between Blandford and Josh Lofts.
That promise slowly evaporated as Laane pulled the red cape over the Bulls with a 40-run 10-wicket collapse.
Blandford and Walsh currently lead the way with the willow, combining for 293 runs this season, while Oddie, Lofts and Kriss Ellis look poised to improve their contributions.
Similarly, Clunes were in the driver’s seat against Maryborough a fortnight ago after bowling the Owls for 144, but were skittled for 99 with Rehman, Anthony Ellis and Fred Penhall the only batters to surpass single digits.
The dynamic middle-order duo of Rehman and Mitch Coppick have scored a staggering 37 percent of the Magpies’ runs this season, the key wickets the Bulls will be keen to take early this weekend.