Sport
6 March, 2026
Six teams fighting for A reserve top four
After some sensational bowling and an unbeaten hundred from Clunes’ Adam Clark headlined round 17, A reserve is set for a grandstand finish, with all teams between first and fifth now sandwiched by just six points.
Clunes 7/181 def Avoca 95
A captivating century from Adam Clark has flown the Magpies past the Bulldogs, cementing their challenge for a three-peat with an 86-run victory.
After Glen Cosgriff removed opener Brad Stevenson to give Avoca an early breakthrough, Clark and A reserve leading run-scorer Mark Jenkin placed the hosts in a controlling position with a 102-run partnership.
Credit to the Bulldogs, their bowling attack led by captain Cameron Holland, Brad Palmer and James Collicoat did an excellent job restricting runs at the death.
However, nothing was stopping Clark from finishing unbeaten on 102 with a staggering 16 fours, allowing Clunes to finish on 7/181.
Not content with his sensational performance with the willow, Clark combined with Stevenson to peck right through Avoca’s lineup, rapidly taking three wickets each to have the ladder-leaders stranded at 6/20.
A 55-run eighth-wicket stand between Cosgriff and Tyson Gray breathed some life into a Bulldogs comeback, until Brendan Ingram mopped up the tail with two late wickets.
After boasting a 15-point lead over the competition at the holiday break with an undefeated record, the Bulldogs are in danger of not only losing top spot but missing the finals entirely, as their lead has shrunk to three points after losing four of their last five games.
Maryborough 2/71 def Carisbrook 69
The Craig Jennings Cup remains Maryborough property, as the Owls’ eight-wicket romp not only keeps their finals hopes alive, but eliminates Carisbrook from top four contention.
Outside of some solid knocks from Caleb Cluff, William Morrison and Brandon Carter, who top-scored with 21, Maryborough’s attack overpowered Carisbrook, bowling them out for 69 in the 33rd over.
Fresh off taking a game-clinching 3/22 against Clunes, Anthony Sequeira continued to throw wicket missiles, finishing with 4/14 alongside Paul Jardine’s 3/19.
Captain Jarryd Coghlan injected some life into Carisbrook by bowling opener Keegan Doherty for naught, but a handy 18 from Sam Thomson and an unbeaten 38 by Lachlan Bursill ensured Maryborough chased down their target with ease.
Laanecoorie Dunolly 42 def by Colts Phelans 2/45
Colts Phelans has kept itself within touching distance of the top four after making quick work of an undermanned Laanecoorie Dunolly.
Despite their team only having eight players suited up to bat, Laane openers Benjamin Smith and Jayden McDonald attempted to bring the fight to last season’s runner-up.
However, once their 28-run stand ended thanks to a Riley Govan run out of McDonald, Ethan Chaplin and Grant Rogers barrelled their way through Laane’s order, bowling the hosts for 42.
Rogers ended with stunning figures of 4/9 while Chaplin took 2/16 from his eight overs.
A quickfire 24 from Nick Peart completed the bulk of the run chase for the Colts before Govan and Rogers finished the job in seven overs.
Beaufort Blue 9/117 def by MKM 4/119
With four victories in their last five matches, MKM has vaulted into second on the A reserve ladder courtesy of another impressive display against Beaufort Blue.
Nathan Leist threatened to give the Mill another quick victory after bowling Laanecoorie Dunolly for 32 last week, taking three quick wickets to have the hosts rocked at 4/26.
Surrounded by Leist’s destruction, Adam Miller was producing a fine innings, filled with excellent shots that were only stopped by the boundary fence.
Even as MKM captain Tristan Tack laid waste to his team’s lower order with 3/22, Miller placed Beaufort Blue into a winnable position with his 66 not out.
Dan Quixley strengthened that position by removing Muhammad Haseeb Khan and Sebastian Borg rather cheaply to have the Mill in dire straits at 2/25.
A 44-run partnership between Leist and Jarrod Nedelkovski steadied the ship for MKM, who finished the run chase in the 25th over.
Round 18
After extreme bushfire risk forced the MDCA to postpone round 10 to March 14, the originally scheduled season-ending round 18 is now the penultimate round of the regular season.
Even with the rescheduling, this weekend could have serious permutations towards the final race, even if many of the finals contenders aren’t clashing.
Despite sitting in second, MKM is the team under the heaviest threat of losing their top four place with the bye in round 18.
That means if Colts Phelans overcomes Beaufort Blue at Hedges Oval, they will move inside the finals spots with one round to play.
Stakes are also high for Maryborough, who need a victory to stay in the finals hunt against an Avoca team determined to reestablish themselves as title contenders following their recent skid.
The team that recently compounded that skid, Clunes, has a tricky test ahead as they host Carisbrook, who will be keen to enact revenge on the Magpies after being bowled out for 17 back in round four.
Fresh off a round 17 bye, Beaufort Red can illafford to develop any rust when they play Laanecoorie Dunolly at Goldfields Recreation Reserve.