The Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club faced a mix bag of results last weekend with two of the senior teams in A Grade and C Grade just falling short of victory, while A Res and B Grade chalked up back-to-back wins on the trot.
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This week several of the junior teams played each other with the Under 14s taking part in the ‘locking of the horns’ where the Rams were victorious.
Although only three rounds into the 2025/26 season, a majority of the Lakers teams are sitting pretty on the ladder as others look to work their way into the season as the weeks progress.
A Grade’s valiant effort falls short
A grade once again made the trip to Wangaratta, this time to take on Rovers United. Winning the toss and batting first Knight and Smart were sent out to do some early damage.
Smart’s day was cut short in the first over, removed for 0. Knight got into his work early, finding the boundary multiple times until he himself fell for the top score of 22.
Webb and Brock McCabe found themselves together again at the crease before McCabe departed which brought in A grade’s latest debutant.
Pigeons premiership star and Morris Medallist, Willie Wheeler quickly and eagerly made his way out to the middle in his return to cricket and was soon on his way back after being run out without scoring.
The collapse continued to see the Lakers dismissed for just 76.
Webb and Heslin kicked things off with the ball with the latter removing the in-form Perera for 4.
Heslin would pick up his second with the help of some extremely sharp fielding from the returning Zac Fraser in the slips.
Webb bowled well and battled hard for his only wicket of the day, dismissing Whitten for 10.
As the match drew to a close TJ Docking was finally introduced to the match and collected 2 late wickets from his 3 overs, a positive sign and confidence booster for the second gamer.
Heslin would claim a third before the hosts chased down the total six wickets down in the 26th over.
A valiant effort by the Lakers bowling attack and sharp fielding made it an uncomfortable task for the hosts.
The team will play their first home game of the season next week, taking on Beechworth at Vic Park.
A Res record 6 wicket victory
Yarrawonga Mulwala 4/103 def Delatite 10/102.
B Grade chalk up back-to-back wins
Rovers United Bruck 7/194 def by Yarrawonga Mulwala 6/213.
Supreme leader, Hawk, made his first appearance for the season – rumour has it he finally got through the list of household chores and was granted official clearance from HQ to play.
Clearly refreshed and full of authority, he won the toss and confidently chose to bat.
Huddo and Blocka Wilson opened up, with Huddo wasting no time finding the boundary rope.
Wilson, after a promising warm-up, was dismissed for 3, and Huddo soon followed for 16 after pinging his quad – possibly the first bloke in club history to hit a boundary and a soft-tissue injury in the delivery.
That was him done for the day, leaving the rest of the boys to do the heavy lifting.
Hilly looked solid until he tried to put one into orbit and was bowled for 7, leaving the Lakers in a bit of strife.
Enter Buerckner, playing his first game of the season and the Supreme Leader, Hawk. What followed was a clinic.
The pair put on a massive 123-run partnership that had the Rovers bowlers searching for the nearest ice bath.
Buerckner was unstoppable, smashing an unbeaten 115 off 89 balls and even had the opposition having to get a replacement ball as he dispatched a ball into the neighbouring paddock.
Hawk cruised to 46 off 50 before deciding he’d done enough to justify his household leave pass.
The Lakers posted a very respectable 6/213 from 36 overs on a lightning-fast North Wang outfield.
The Lakers knew they’d be a bowler short and would need a big effort in the field. Hilly and Tow Ball Pickering took the new rock.
Rovers came out swinging, but the veterans quickly found their groove – pitching it up, building pressure, and drying up the runs.
Hill bowled beautifully, going for just 26 from his 7 overs, while Tow Ball used every bead of sweat off his shiny noggin to make the ball swing like a boomerang.
He ripped through the top order with 4/46 from 8 overs.
The middle overs saw Junior Pickering combine well with Nate the Great, keeping things tight and chipping away at the run rate.
Hawk then led from the front with the ball, taking 3/36 from 8 overs, just as Rovers started to sniff a chance.
His final wicket came off what can only be described as a “rank full toss” — but as they say, they all look the same in the scorebook.
The only real controversy was the lack of celebration, leaving the Fine Master with a tough call: fine Hawk for the delivery, or fine the team for pretending it never happened.
Special mentions
With a few players away, the team were well supported by youngsters Eamon Pickering, Mitchell ('I bowl pace") Smith and George ("the voice") Hill.
Eamon ("ice cold") Pickering was everywhere in the field, Smithy bowled well for some much need overs in the middle of the innings and you could have sworn little Hilly had a megaphone out there as he was chatting all day and his enthusiasm was elite.
Though it might cost his dad, Hill Snr, a couple of fines after whilst the team were batting, George loudly announced “Hawk’s on 46!” (next ball, gone) and later, “Luke’s on 96!” (but not even that could unsettle Buerckner)
In the end, Rovers finished 7/194, falling 19 runs short.
The Lakers chalked up back-to-back wins to start the season, a huge team effort built on Buerckner’s ton, Tow Ball’s shiny-headed swing and the Supreme leaders brilliant middle over spell.
C Grade just falls short
Yarrawonga Mulwala 8/133 def by Moyhu 4/138.
The mighty YMCC C Grade took on the new kids on the block, the freshly formed Moyhu outfit at Vic Park 2.
Captain won the toss and, full of confidence (or just wanting to bat before the pub opened), elected to have a hit first.
Openers Tom Taylor and Kade Michael – the blokes with two first names each – strode out looking like Test openers.
Sadly, the dreams ended early when Taylor sent one sky-high for 5.
Young Parker wandered out next, but it turns out he’s a few months early for duck season — bowled by former Kangaroo Cooper without troubling the scorer.
Debutant and noted carnivore Knight made a classy 2 in his senior debut, before heading off to hunt something more tender.
Kade Michael was looking the goods, cruising along beautifully until he was caught for a sparkling 49 — just one short of raising the bat like Hawk (and he won’t hear the end of that anytime soon).
Veteran Browning chipped in with a handy 16 before finding the only fielder within cooee.
Old man Parker was back to his rusty best, top-scoring with an unbeaten 37.
Junior Browning added 2, and Father of the Bison (multiple Pearce Medal winner) – Doyle Sr. showed a glimpse of the glory days with a silky leg glance for 4, before skying another down leg to remind everyone he’s human after all.
Richo 1 and Cruikshank finished the innings, with Cruikshank producing a cover drive for the ages on his way to 7 not out.
Lakers posted a competitive 8/133 – a total described by experts as “maybe enough if Moyhu forget their bats.”
Moyhu’s innings began with fireworks — quite literally — as residents of Dunlop Street rushed outside thinking hailstones were hitting roofs, only to find 2 piece leather Kookaburras landing instead.
Browning and Two-First-Names Michael bowled well, beating the bat often… and occasionally the keeper too.
Unfortunately, the catching department resembled a Christmas hamper — full of drops.
Michael ended with 2/48, Browning 1/47.
Young Parker tightened things up with 0/12, T-Bone Taylor chimed in with 0/14, and Meat-Eater Knight claimed his first senior wicket, thanks to a sharp grab from the keeper behind the stumps.
Despite some solid effort, Moyhu’s experience got them home against a brave young Lakers outfit.
Player of the Day:
Young Bison Doyle – full of energy in the field (shame his old man couldn’t match the fielding skills).
A special mention to the four father-son combos – Doyle, Browning, Parker and Michael – showing what community cricket’s all about.
The boys now enjoy a well-earned bye next week, which is good news for the physio and the pub.
Under 16s fought to the end
Yarrawonga Mulwala 10/118 def by Beechworth – Ovens Valley United 8/203
Day 1 – Saturday, October 18
On another sunny Saturday morning the Lakers U16s took to the field in their first 2 day game of the season.
Ovens flipped the coin, called heads and won the toss. They had a bat.
The Lakers were bowling tight lines and making it hard for the openers from the first ball. The score however progressed to 0/42 before they claimed their first scalp via L.Cruikshank (1/23).
J.Knight produced a beauty of a swinging Yorker to bowl a batsman around his legs. Pickering was tight as usual and M.Smith looked dangerous in the field throwing the stumps down with a sharp throw.
Alex Richardson supported his bowlers with 2 catches and a wicket.
Browning chimed in with another scalp as the boys continued to chip away with the wickets.
Enter Billy Stevens who put on a leg spinning clinic to bamboozle every batsman unfortunate enough to find themselves on strike.
Billy finished with 4/18 of 4 overs including 2 maidens. The boys captured the last 6 wickets of the innings for under 20 runs.
Beechworth Ovens finishing their innings on 8 / 203, thanks to a great knock of 112 not out by Noah White.
Day 2 – Saturday, October 25.
Day 2 of the big clash with Beechworth Ovens was always going to be a big task for the boys.
Chasing 203 to take the bickies, the boys started confidently.
With the words ‘get yourself in and take your time’ ringing in their ears, the openers came out strong.
The boys found themselves in a bit of strife at 2 for 8 in the 8th over.
A strong partnership between Cruikshank and Smith built the score up to 43. Both boys playing some great shots.
Ever reliable Jack Browning chipped in 14 in the middle order and fill in player Jordan Knight compiled 13 valuable runs to steer toward the 100 mark.
Enter Alex Richardson who was a one-man wrecking ball in his way to 22 valuable tail end runs.
Alex has earned a shot at the top of the order next game and proved he’s talented with bat and ball.
The boys fought it out to the end unfortunately dismissed for 118.
Thanks for the under 14s that helped get a side up after 3 of the team went to school camp for the second week of the game.
Next game is against Wang Maggies at Norm Minns Oval.
Under 15s Lakers’ girls washed away
Rovers United Bruck 3/107 def Yarrawonga Mulwala 8/20.
A dreary Sunday morning, surrounded by rain clouds and low temperatures, proved a bad omen for the Lakers’ Girls as they were overpowered by an experienced RUBCC team at Wareena Park Oval.
Looking to snag an early breakthrough with the ball, saw chances elude “the Lakers” as the Combine took their chances and kept the scoreboard ticking over at a very good clip.
Lexi Richardson and Sienna O’Brien took on the role of opening bowlers and kept the opposition scoring in check.
Claire Pearce and first gamer, Sophie Richardson carried on, but the damp conditions were affecting the matter, making getting a grip on the ball an arduous task and this resulted in a few wides being called.
Richardson’s youth belied her bowling return, and she shapes as a promising prospect.
The girls refocussed and were able tighten things up as their spells finished, thus bringing a pair of debutants to accept the bowling duties.
Sally Howell and Bridie Burns were a ray of sunshine on a bleak overcast Wangaratta morning.
“Stanga” grabbing an efficient 0 for 4 from her allocated two overs and “Burner” posting a 0 for 14 that, with a bit of luck, should have had a wicket or two.
The home team were stating to hit out and push the score along, Mackenzie Wolfe and Brydie Pearce stood in their way, containing the big shots, conceding 26 in the four power play overs.
Their bowling was just what was required to keep the situation in check and manageable.
Kirsty Plevnik swapped the keeper’s gloves for the ball in the later part of the innings and teamed up with the returning Sienna O’Brien to claim three late wickets (Plevnik 3-1-2-3 and O’Brien 3-0-1-13) to be the pick of the bowlers.
108 runs was the victory target.
The change of innings saw a 10-minute delay due to rain and it looked as if the game was about to be called for interference due to weather.
The rain eased and the run chase started. Unfortunately, the RUBCC opening bowler had other ideas.
Being small of stature proved to be her secret weapon.
The lower ball release, speed of her deliver and the wet synthetic pitch all combined to produce skidders that derailed the chase.
Plevnik, O’Brien and Wolfe all victims in her first two overs of the game.
Richardson the elder engaged in a misjudge second run and was found well short of safe ground.
At the other end, Claire Pearce was rock solid and showing how it was done.
Howell came in and got off the mark with a stylish hit to contribute in her first game, before being beaten by a peach of a ball that had the Lakers’ Girls reeling at 5 for 12 and in more trouble than the early settlers.
First gamer Burns was within three balls of her compulsory retirement when hot, tracer bullet of a chance was accepted by the mid on fielder.
Some days the luck is with you, some days it deserts you without trace.
It was left to the youngest players to take on the herculean effort of making 80 runs with no batters left in the shed.
Brydie Pearce and Sophie Richardson gave it their best effort, but with the odds overwhelmingly stack against them, the RUBCC girls were zeroing in early finish.
From the carnage, opening batter Claire Pearce carried her bat through the innings to have a very fine match performance with a not out at bat and a 0 for 6 from her bowling spell.
To add further to this achievement in her second game for the club, she reached retirement in game one and was not out in game two, on both occasions as an opening batter. Outstanding.
It is now back to training, working hard to get better and regrouping for the next match.
As this squad of 12 has seven new members and all 12 girls have rotated through the first two matches, with 6 playing two games and 6 playing one game, they have now all had a taste of competitive cricket.
The rotations and learnings will continue as the team keep building. Stay positive, keep showing up and be better this game, than you were in your last game.
Under 14s locking of the horns
Yarrawonga Mulwala Rams 5/184 def Yarrawonga Mulwala Bulls 4/136.
One of the great things about having so many kids playing cricket is the opportunity to face off against each other in a local derby.
The YMCC was alive and thriving on the last two Thursday nights.
The twilight 40 over clash was a real spectacle and was terrific supported by families, cricket club members and the community.
After winning the toss, the Rams elected to bat on what proved to be a pretty good pitch. Opening pair, Issac McClarty and Finn Mitchell looked solid initially before Jordan Knight took the wicket of McClarty before he’d troubled the scorers.
With the score at 1 for 2 the Bulls looked to be on top early. However, this brought Byron Dodd to the crease and partnered with Mitchell, the pair proceeded to snatch the momentum.
The pair punished loose balls and played magnificent cricket shots against what was a very good bowling performance. They compiled an enormous partnership.
Both batsmen eventually retired.
Dodd scored an impressive and somewhat devastating 50 not out from only 40 deliveries.
Whilst Mitchell played more of an anchor role, batting with both patience and class to score 50 not out from 79 balls.
Benji Wollington chipped in for a very crafty 26 before he copped a savage rising delivery and was well caught by wicket keeper Finn O’Brien.
With a couple of handy contributions from Judd Haebich (11) and Lachlan Brown (12), the Rams pounded their way to the whopping total of 5 for 184.
The Bulls though had much to be proud of. They bowled consistently, fielded well and stayed positive for the entire 40 overs.
Jordan Knight (2 for 10 from 6 overs), Murphy Doyle (1 for 26 from 5 overs), George Kennedy (1 for 27 from 5 overs) and Eamon Pickering (1 for 19 from 3 overs) were the wicket takers.
The Bulls approached the run chase with enthusiasm. The Rams took the new ball with confidence having a large total to defend.
Byron Dodd continued having an impact with the ball this time by picking up the early wicket of Tathila Suriyapathiranalage Don for 1.
With the score at 1 for 5, the Bulls had a large task ahead.
However, Eamon Pickering and Taj Parker were able to steady the ship with a handy partnership before Isaac McLarty took Parker’s pegs with a brutal yorker.
Jordan Knight joined Pickering in similar fashion, the pair combining and batting patiently to build a partnership.
Pickering was eventually dismissed after having dug in for 55 balls for 17. This saw Knight and Finn O’Brien come together and build a strong partnership.
Eventually both Knight (39 not out) and O’Brien (22 not out) were retired. Byron Dodd (1 for 12 from 6 overs), Benji Wollington (1 for 24 from 6 overs), Isaac McClarty (1 for 12 from 3) and Kirsty Plevnik (1for 17 from 5) were the wicket takers.
The Bulls were outstanding in the field and managed to hold the Rams to a total of 4 for 136 from their 40 overs.
All in all, the Rams took out the “Locking of the Horns” cup in what was a great win for the entire YMCC.
Under 12 Rams claim handy victory
Yarrawonga Mulwala Rams 5/105 def Benalla Bushrangers Green 3/64.
Hoppers to regroup after disappointing loss
Saints Seniors 1/62 def Tungamah 10/61.
Tungamah batted first against Berrigan and showed some excellent early touch with the bat.
Jim Irvine and Tyler Bognone were cruising with the score at 3 for 47. From that point on, the innings collapsed, despite excellent batting from Jim Irvine who showed his class with a classy 25.
Sadly, the Hoppers were only able to muster 61 runs.
Berrigan then took the fight up to 1 for 62 for a 9-wicket win.
Cricket is not just about high scores but also family efforts.
Mike O'Farrell ventured up to Berrigan to watch three grandsons play together, with Rory Saunders taking on captaincy duties.
Tungamah will regroup and be ready for next week.