Sport
20 February, 2026
Owls, Carisbrook clash critical to finals picture
With only two rounds remaining before finals, Maryborough will attempt to find some much-needed momentum and clinch a finals berth against a Carisbrook team now hot on their heels.
When the MDCA’s A grade resumed following the Christmas break, the Owls would’ve been optimistic their penultimate regular season fixture would be a dead rubber, comfortably in third ahead of the fifth-placed Carisbrook.
However, three consecutive defeats to Colts Phelans, Beaufort and Laanecoorie Dunolly have shrunk that gap, placing Mary-borough’s previously assured finals place under observable pressure.
While facing difficult opponents is a component of their skid, the Owls have seen a clear drop in competitiveness after strong showings against fellow finals contenders in the one-day season.
A part of Maryborough’s problems is through no fault of their own, as the recent unavailability of difference-makers like Oliver Cassidy, Jason Hunt and Liam Maffescioni has left their bowling attack undermanned.
Even as seamers Elliot Ashburn, Tate Williams and Ben Hoban have kept their attack competitive, more troublesome for the Owls is the noticeable dip in batting production, averaging 137 runs in their last three innings.
Maryborough has only had five instances during their losing rut of a batter surpassing 25, with four of those five coming from left-handers Liam Radlof and Martin Dell.
It isn’t all doom and gloom for Maryborough, as a third victory over last season’s runner-up in 2025/26 would lock in their finals place with a round to play.
Although, as Maryborough has frozen ice cold, Carisbrook has become the antithesis, running red hot, resulting in a dominant display against Clunes.
Carisbrook couldn’t have dreamed of a better result. Fresh off scoring 324, they fell one wicket short of an outright win thanks to a Jordan Hooper five-wicket haul bowling Clunes out for 63 in the first innings.
However, that faithful wicket could prove costly, as thanks to Beaufort’s surprise victory against the Colts, they remain nine points behind the top four.
An outright victory would’ve shrunk that gap to a much more manageable three points with two rounds to play.
With the Owls and Bulls at home to end their regular season, Carisbrook’s finals fortune remains in their hands, likely needing back-to-back wins to steal a top-four spot at the death.
To achieve this objective, Carisbrook will want their bowling attack to maintain its improved wicket-taking since the mid-season break.
While it would be unrealistic to expect Hooper and Atticus Cullinan to replicate their outstanding showcase last Saturday, it’s a glowing sign of their in-season improvement.
Battling struggles with command all season, Atticus Cullinan complemented his hard-hitting 64 with the willow by posting an economy rate of 2.47 from his 17 overs over both innings, 2.51 better than his season average.
Fellow rising-star Cooper Mark has also impressed with the ball recently, taking 6/59 in 13.4 overs in his last three bowling innings.