Sport

Lakers prepare for premiership defence

By Ben Black

Oct 6, 2026

The Yarrawonga Lakers Cricket Club is hoping to build on last year’s success and emulate the same outcome by claiming another premiership.

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For experienced campaigner Reid Clarke, it is something the club aspires to achieve, with the chance to claim two flags in 12 months firmly on the agenda.

“I don’t think we have gone back-to-back before, so I think the boys will be keen to reach that target,” Clarke said.

The Lakers have become a formidable force within the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association in recent years, regularly having sides feature at the pointy end of the season.

Club president Glenn Brear spoke of how success across the club drives it forward in a positive direction, with the finer one-percenters often making the difference.

“We could have quite easily won all four, but to win all four you need a little bit of luck, the extra run or wicket,” Brear said.

The club’s junior program has always been one that has exceeded expectations and, with the continual support from the senior club, that is expected to grow.

Clarke says the pathway the club has established to get juniors involved is strong, fostering a good relationship between the junior and senior sides.

Particularly with junior parents who are former players still actively involved within the club.

“We’ve had plenty of young kids and it’s been a key feature so far, with junior numbers through the roof,” Clarke said.

Key recruits have been another important area for the club as it looks to remain at the top.

Reid Clarke is glad to see the transition between junior and senior cricket is working. Photo by Ben Black

One of those players is Devlin Webb, a former Australian Under-16 representative who possesses plenty of strong cricketing traits that saw him become one of the Lakers’ premier players last season.

Brear was supportive of the youngster’s input into the group and believes he has added plenty to the competition.

“Devlin was a very good recruit for the club, I've got no doubt that Devlin could be one of the best players in the competition without a doubt,” Brear said.

But Devlin’s impact on the field was one that caught the eye of Reid Clarke, who had the opportunity to play alongside him on game day.

“We knew he could bat, bowl and field, but it is the way he thinks of the game; his cricket IQ is at a high level,” Clarke said.

“He was instrumental in coming up with certain plans for key batters around the competition.”

All local sporting clubs rely heavily on volunteer support, and for Glenn Brear, it is about getting more people involved to help make the club even better.

Cricket club president Glenn Brear volunteers his time mowing the pitch at the Stan Hargraves Reserve. Photo: Contributed Photo by Contributed

“We've got a good commitment with our coaching and team managers, through the parents of our juniors, and we've got a very loyal group of volunteers that step up through their committee work,” Brear said.

The stage is set for the upcoming season and, for Reid Clarke, it is something Yarrawonga is looking forward to taking head-on as it looks to defend its premiership.

“I think that comes with being the reigning premiers, you’re always going to have teams chasing you,” he said.