Sport
27 February, 2026
Red defeats Blue in Battle of Beaufort
The town of Beaufort is officially Red. Painted by a sensational century from Blake Jantzen, Beaufort Red reigned supreme over fellow Bulls Beaufort Blue, ending a frantic round 16 three points behind first.
Beaufort Blue 76 def by Beaufort Red 4/245
It only took one shot for Beaufort Red to seize control of the much-anticipated Battle of Beaufort, as a 171-run opening stand from Jantzen and Thomas Grant fired a double-barreled shotgun shell into Beaufort Blue, who couldn’t recover.
While Grant was methodical, scoring most of his runs with his feet, Jantzen was seeing deliveries like a beach ball, dispatching many to the boundary.
Despite Grant being dismissed by Beau Quixley for 66, Jantzen went on to become the fourth player this season to score a hundred in A reserve, finishing unbeaten on 131 after smashing 14 fours and four sixes.
Beaufort Blue got off to a decent start chasing down 245 thanks to Brady Edwards, but a quartet of wickets from Grant and Joshua Lofts sealed Beaufort Red’s win.
Jantzen put the icing on the cake of an astonishing performance, taking 3/3 and four maidens from five overs to clean up Beaufort Blue.
Maryborough 8/180 def Clunes 7/136
Just as their finals aspirations began to slip through their fingers, the Owls have feathered some life into their season with a soaring victory against the Magpies.
With their 44-run triumph, Maryborough stays 12 points behind the demoted Clunes in fourth, likely needing to win their remaining three games to have any chance of closing that gap.
Aided by contributions from Ben Robertson, Lachlan Bursill and Sam Thomson, a 73-run partnership between Paul Jardine and a returning Jason Hunt sparked Maryborough’s innings.
Jardine crunched 10 fours on his way to a season-high 66, as the Owls completed their 40 overs with a sturdy score of 8/180.
After Clunes lost Brad Stevenson thanks to a Sam Ross wicket, the in-form duo of Mark Jenkin and Adam Clark looked poised to make a serious challenge at the target.
That was until Anthony Sequeira dismissed Jenkin for 51, as he and Joshua Cooper began dissecting through the Magpies order, ending with Cooper bowling Clark for 38.
Sequeira and Cooper finished with three wickets each, dooming Clunes to fall 44 runs short.
Carisbrook 7/164 def by Colts Phelans 8/183
A heroic knock from Carisbrook captain Jarryd Coghlan wasn’t enough to vanquish Colts Phelans, who held on to their three-point deficit to the top four.
The Colts have had a flair for the dramatic this season, with seven of their 13 matches decided by 25 runs or less.
With a hat-trick the week prior against Maryborough, Aaron Balzan transferred that magic to the bat, providing some middle-order stability. Balzan’s team-high 39 complimented captain Jonathan Melton’s 35 atop the order, allowing the Colts to finish on 8/183.
Despite only having four overs, David Coomber was a wicket aficionado, dismissing Melton and Balzan on his way to four breakthroughs, including a run out.
With Coomber and Caleb Cluff the only batsmen in Carisbrook’s top five to reach double digits, it looked as though the Colts would cruise to victory.
However, after scoring a game-winning 61 against the Colts back in round two, Coghlan was providing an incarnation showcase, etching Carisbrook ever closer to the target.
Balzan once again came in clutch for the Colts, removing Coghlan for 79 to secure his team’s victory.
MKM 1/37 def Laanecoorie Dunolly 32
With their finals spot in constant jeopardy, MKM continues to deny top four hopefuls a rite of passage, making quick work of Laanecoorie Dunolly by nine wickets.
Starting with Chris Freeman bowling Benjamin Smith, the Mill proceeded to decimate Laane, causing an almighty 7/3 collapse with Freeman taking three wickets.
Tylan Waddington gave the visitors a minor pulse with a top score of 11 before being bowled by Tyson Knight to end Laane’s innings on 32.
It’s the fourth time MKM’s high-powered attack has bowled a team out for less than triple digits.
Two fours and two sixes from Muhammad Haseeb Khan got the Mill on the precipice of their shortened run chase, with Henry Potter and Freeman finishing the job in the sixth over.
Round 17
Three rounds remain in the A reserve home and away season, meaning all four matches this weekend will have hefty ramifications on the packed finals race.
Two teams on the outside looking in on the top four are Maryborough and Carisbrook, who have a lot to play for alongside the Craig Jennings Cup, as a defeat for either team would administer a potential death blow to their finals chances.
With teams like Carisbrook and Maryborough attempting to chase them down, Clunes’ premiership defence will hit a major crossroads against ladder-leaders Avoca after their bye.
Joining the Magpies on the top four bubble is MKM, hoping to transfer their exceptional bowling performance last weekend when they travel to play Beaufort Blue.
If either the Magpies or the Mill falter on Saturday, Colts Phelans will be in pole position to capitalise and move into the top four, but first have to defeat Laanecoorie Dunolly.
After a dominant display in the Battle of Beaufort, Beaufort Red will enjoy a round 17 bye.