Sport
27 January, 2026
Laanecoorie Dunolly in control despite a Dylan Davies led Clunes fightback
Despite a flourishing half-century from Dylan Davies carrying Clunes to a winnable total, Laanecoorie Dunolly find themselves firmly in the driver’s seat after bowling the Magpies out for 171.
Even with another classy knock from Mitch Coppick, the reigning one-day premiers were dominating, with the hosts stricken to 8/91 at Bull Millgate Oval.
With Laane’s foot placed on the Magpies’ proverbial throat, a gritty showcase from Jude McGuire set the stage for a remarkable 58-run partnership between Davies and Paul Coon, the highest tenth-wicket stand of the season so far.
With leading wicket-taker and recent opener Noah Davies unavailable, Clunes made the bold decision to promote Coppick to the top of the lineup alongside Anthony Ellis after the Magpies won the toss and elected to bat.
The choice looked to pay dividends early, with Coppick seemingly unfazed facing the new ball in the hands of Josh Fitzpatrick and Sam Bartlett.
However, Fitzpatrick managed to find an early wicket for Laane, with his cherry finding the stumps of Ellis after he scored nine.
As he has done on numerous occasions this season, Will Chamings found a breakthrough after being introduced into the attack soon thereafter, getting Ahmed Rehman to hold out to Matt Smith for one.
Quickly finding themselves 2/28, the new partnership of Coppick and Brett Coon steadied the wobbling ship for Clunes, with Coppick the clear aggressor as Coon settled into his innings.
Despite conceding some Coppick boundaries, Laane’s superb fielding and pinpoint bowling were mounting serious pressure on the Magpies batters to take risks.
That pressure paid dividends when Brett Coon was bowled by his under 17 MDCA representative squad coach Joe Lovel for four as Laane further cemented their commanding position.
After effective spells from Fitzpatrick, Bartlett, Chamings and Lovel, Laane relied heavily on the spin attack of Alex Cook and Amar Ullah, with results coming almost immediately.
Just as Clunes looked to have regained their footing, Cook served up a special dish for Laane, castling Clunes’ frontline batter in Coppick after he scored 40 with seven boundaries.
Ritik Yadav soon followed Coppick back in the pavilion, gone for five when he hit a Ullah delivery into the waiting arms of Tom Hannett.
Struggling at 5/66, the Magpies turned to Mark Allen and McGuire to repeat their heroics during their landmark victory over Beaufort the week prior.
The duo seemed in good touch, adding 21 runs to the total before Allen picked out Lovel at long-off, dismissed for 11 as he looked to attack Ullah down the ground.
Lovel wasn’t done making a difference in the field, running out Brenton Jones for a duck in the next over with a pinpoint throw to Cook at the non-strikers’ end.
Wickets continued to tumble for Laane, with Ullah claiming his third victim when he trapped the returning Corey Garth for an LBW dismissal before he troubled the scorers.
The Magpies suddenly found themselves lost at sea at 8/91 as Laane circled in on the wayward wreckage.
McGuire and Dylan Davies were tasked to paddle the hosts to safety, and the pairing showed persistence under duress to take Clunes past triple figures.
After his dynamo moments in the field, Lovel continued to dictate the game by bowling McGuire for a well-made 24, seemingly extinguishing the Magpies’ last gasp of reaching a defendable total.
However, McGuire’s removal was the start of something special, as Paul Coon joined Dylan Davies at the crease.
The numbers 10 and 11 showed discipline and poise worthy of openers, as they navigated Laane’s advances over after over.
Laane’s bowling arsenal expanded to nine bowlers, but nothing helped pluck a growing thorn in their plans as the partnership continued to grow.
The duo lasted long enough for Dylan Davies to register his first MDCA A grade 50 before skying a Ullah ball caught by Lachie Condie.
With five fours and a six, Davies’ 54 resuscitated some life back into the Magpies with the help of Paul Coon, who played the role of anchor perfectly to finish on 11 not out.
Ullah starred with the ball for Laane to finish with 4/27 and six maidens from an extended workload of 17.2 overs, while Lovel made the most of his limited opportunities, taking 2/16 from 5.3 overs.
With the Magpies bowled out in the 73rd over, Laane had to face one over in a dramatic conclusion to the first day.
Cook was elected to see out a tense six balls alongside Hannett as Yadav was given the job of trying to snatch a wicket at the death.
Despite some good deliveries from the Magpies’ elite spinner, Cook survived without trouble as Laane ended the over without score.