Sport
20 February, 2026
Red-hot Bulls take on ladder-leaders Laane
Fresh off knocking off third and second on the ladder, Beaufort’s revitalisation meets its toughest test against Laanecoorie Dunolly, who could clinch the minor premiership with a victory.
Despite the sides being separated by nearly 90 kilometers, many of their key cogs are very familiar with each other after helping the MDCA to a division two runner-up finish at the recent Melbourne Country Week.
A staggering nine of the 14 members of the representative squad came from either the Bulls or Laane, with the cohort instrumental in the MDCA’s promotion.
Leading that pack was Sam Bartlett, who finished second in the team’s wicket-taking and run-scoring charts with seven wickets and 151 runs at an average of 75.5.
Those 151 runs include two game-winning knocks in the MDCA’s undefeated group stage, following up his unbeaten 87 against Cricket LaTrobe Valley on Monday with a 44 not out to defeat eventual champions Warrnambool Moyne on Thursday.
Beaufort opener Jarrod Blandford sat just behind Bartlett on the run-scoring charts in third, becoming a welcome late addition to the team.
Following his non-selection for the MDCA’s Sharp Shield clash against Grenville, Blandford has gone on a torrid run atop Beaufort’s order.
The left-hander has five fifties in his last six A grade knocks, including a vital 76 in the Bulls’ monumental win versus the Colts, which has maintained their vital cushion inside the top four.
After being bowled out for 125, the Bulls sank their horns into the reigning premiers’ vaunted batting lineup, with Jayden Scotland and Theo Trevelyan-Clark leading with three wickets each.
The return of Scotland and the refinement of Trevelyan-Clark have given the Bulls a more reliable pace attack to complement the spin of Lachlan Oddie and Brandon Walsh.
The quartet will have to be at their best to compete with a Laane bowling lineup that leads the competition in runs allowed and is second in wickets taken this season.
Even as MDCA leading wicket-taker during Melbourne Country Week Josh Fitzpatrick was rested, the ladder-leaders made quick work of bowling Maryborough for 153, led by six of the best by Alex Cook.
The star spinner’s 6/23 on Saturday brought his season tally to an outstanding 24 wickets with an average of 13.88, only bested by Bulls captain Walsh on 27.
With their win over the Colts last weekend, Laane is now the only team Beaufort hasn’t defeated this season, losing by seven wickets in round three and 71 runs in round six.