Sport
9 January, 2026
Magpies to hit critical juncture in Bulls country
Clunes’ slim chances of climbing their way to finals contention can receive a massive boost when they challenge a Beaufort team desperate to cement their finals place.
With an 18-point gap between themselves and the Bulls in fourth, the Magpies will likely need at least one outright victory from their five two-day matches to have any chance of completing a remarkable return to finals contention.
While crazier things have happened in the world of cricket, Beaufort can virtually put those optimistic aspirations to bed if they can repeat their two one-day triumphs over Clunes earlier this season.
Beaufort’s bowling barrage, led by captain and tied MDCA A grade leading wicket-taker Brandon Walsh, was the difference maker in both encounters.
After posting 199 thanks to impressive knocks from Walsh and Theo Trevelyan-Clark, the Bulls held on by 27 runs in their round two clash with the Magpies thanks to three-wicket hauls from Walsh, Ben and Thomas Grant.
Walsh grabbed another three-wicket haul during the round seven rematch to help restrict Clunes to 145 before an unbeaten 72 from Jarrod Blandford led Beaufort to a seven-wicket victory.
A silver lining to that defeat for the Magpies was after being 5/34, their lower order rallied thanks to a gritty partnership from Jude McGuire and Brenton Jones.
The duo allowed Dylan Davies to flourish with some late hitting, scoring a season-high 38 from just 41 balls.
Despite their vastly differing records, these teams might be more evenly matched than their ladder position suggests according to some eerily similar statistics, especially in the bowling department.
From their 316.1 and 315.5 overs respectively with the white ball, the Bulls and Magpies were virtually identical in runs allowed. Beaufort holds a slight edge with 1504 runs conceded, while Clunes sits just behind on 1512.
Walsh and Trevelyan-Clark have been the horns to the Bulls’ bowling attack so far in 2025/26, combining to take half of the Bulls’ wickets with 33 breakthroughs.
While Clunes still possesses a reliable rotation of quicks who have generated the majority of their 61 breakthroughs so far, they are hoping that a newly arrived weapon can bring a long-craved element to their lineup.
After years of not enjoying the fruits of an elite frontline spinner, Ritik Yadav looks to be the answer to Clunes’ prayers.
Before flying to the Magpies this season, Yadav was arguably the vital piece that brought Carisbrook to the Grand Final in 2024/25, bowling a whopping 106.5 overs in five two-day games.
Yadav was extremely efficient during those extended spells, taking 20 wickets at an average of 11.6 and an economy rate of just 2.17.
With the bat, both teams would like to see more lineup depth emerge. They are currently two of three teams alongside Maryborough to have only one batsman crack 200 runs.
The Bulls have shown flashes with talented bats like Trevelyan-Clark, Lachlan Oddie, Kriss Ellis and Joshua Lofts starring on occasion, but the quartet would like to fire on all cylinders to support the efforts of Walsh and Blandford.
As for the Magpies, Mitch Coppick continues to be the undisputed MVP of the batting lineup, but he can’t place Clunes back in the finals hunt on his own.
After showcasing some good form in portions of the one-day season, players like Brett Coon, Ahmed Rehman, Mark Allen and Brendan Ingram will need to be key if the Magpies are to do the improbable.