Sport
10 January, 2025
Colts and Clunes return in two-day lineup
Clunes will commence their red-ball season with a trip to Hedges Oval as they look to throw a wrench in Colts Phelans plans of chasing down ladder-leaders Laanecoorie Dunolly.
It has been over a month since the Magpies have taken the field, putting on a good showing against Laane in a losing effort.
An 80-run partnership from Brenton Jones and Mitch Coppick ensured Clunes reached a total of 156 and while they struggled to control the run rate, the Magpies bowlers were able to take wickets consistently against the fearsome Laane lineup.
Colts Phelans will aim to continue their sparkling form with three wins from their last four, including a five-wicket victory against Carisbrook in their last outing.
While Carisbrook ensured it was a hard-fought contest, three wickets from Max Jackson and economical bowling from Nick Henderson, Regan Goundry and Dayne Baker limited Carisbrook’s score to 211.
Jackson and Charlie Scorer ensured Colts would get over the finish line comfortably, making 83 and 73 respectively.
The English all-rounders have been living up to Charlie’s namesake this season, scoring a combined 399 runs to lead the way in the batting department for Colts.
Fellow Englishman Goundry (146 runs) and Rhys Egan (153) have also made good use of their time at the crease and while he hasn’t broken out this season, Rhys Wagstaff is always a threat as he displayed last season with 388 runs and a century.
While the bat has played a significant role, Colts depth in bowling has been a key to their success so far this season.
They have relied on six bowlers all season to wreak havoc on opposing batting lineups, and they have delivered in spades with Goundry, Baker, Jackson, Scorer, Henderson and Ben Evans all taking at least seven wickets.
Clunes have struggled to achieve the same level of potency in their bowling lineup, with young livewire Brett Coon contributing more than a quarter of the Magpies wickets this season with seven.
That isn’t to say there haven’t been strong performances in that department, Dylan Davies took 3/29 against Beaufort in round one, Brad Stevenson impressed with 2/31 off eight overs in round five against Laane and Brendan Ingram took 2/25 in their last outing.
Anthony Ellis has been the one to watch for the Magpies this season with the bat, currently sitting in tenth for runs scored in the competition with 150.
Coppick will look to continue from his strong partnership with Jones and showcase why he finished second in runs scored last season with 478, while Ingram will look to recapture the groove he was in during his high-score outing of 53 against Beaufort in round six.
This will be the first meeting between the two sides this season after their one-day clash in round two was abandoned due to wet weather.
Colts took out a T20 thriller with four balls to spare in round five of last season, but it was the Magpies who had the last laugh, swooping into the two-day grand final at Colts expense in the semi-final.