Sport
4 December, 2025
Memorable weekend for Lions
LAST weekend proved to be the best of the season so far for the Noorat Terang Lions Cricket Club, with all teams performing well - along with the first century and five wicket bag of the season.
At the Terang Turf, the premier side was playing the first week of a two-day game and are 13 runs shy of first innings points with eight wickets in hand.
Weather conditions, with rain about, saw the Lions have no hesitation in putting Warrnambool in to bat.
Warrnambool was never able to get on top and was bowled out for 62 at the end of the 50th over.
Tyson Hay made the initial breakthroughs, taking the first two wickets and finishing with the figures of 2/9 off 10 overs.
Darcy Abbott with 1/9 from seven overs bowled a tight spell, taking a wicket with compliments to a classic catch from Max Heffernan in his return game to the first 11.
A mix up between the batsmen saw wicketkeeper Luke Kenna throw down the stumps at the bowler’s end.
It was left to the spin twins to wrap up the innings, with Tim Delaney 3/12 from 13 overs and Tim Keane 3/9 from five doing the damage.
Ben Woodward took three catches, all off Keane’s bowling.
With 27 overs to bat, the Lions recovered from a wicket in the first over to be 2/49 at stumps.
Liam Geary holed out for 25, while Bailey Kavenagh on 18 and Luke Kenna on 3 will resume batting as the team will be looking at a total to declare at to push for an outright win (which are always difficult to come by).
In division two, stalwart Dave Conheady brought up his maiden century for the club and his third for his career as he carried his bat to an unbeaten 122 at the end of the 45 overs.
Affectionately known as “Dead Bat”, he didn’t play that way as his innings comprised 131 balls with 12 fours.
He was involved in two century partnerships.
The opening partnership with Dom Moloney, who made 46 from 74, was 122 and the second wicket partnership with Ryan Lowth, who made 67 from 57 balls was 113.
At the end of 45 overs the Lions finished with 3/248.
In reply, Nestles reached 8/225 at the end of their overs.
Captain Brett Hunger had full confidence in his young bowlers that he didn’t bowl a ball himself.
Under 17 player Lachlan Primmer took his first five wicket haul, finishing with 5/49 from nine overs and also a run out.
Fellow under 17 player Jack Farrell took 1/31 from eight overs and also chipped in with a run out.
Ollie Clarke with 0/17 from six overs and Jack McConnell 0/19 from six also bowled good spells.
This weekend the division two Lions have the bye.
The division four Lions played North Warrnambool at Bushfield and returned to the winners circle with a tight bowling performance where they restricted the home side to 8/86 off 40 overs.
Toby Roberts took 2/10 from eight overs, Dean Abbott 2/12 from eight and Jack Kenna with 2/17 were the multiple wicket takers.
Under 17 players Sam Lillico and Caleb Bamford both took a wicket each.
In reply an opening partnership of 53 set up a big win.
Mark Lillico made his first half century of the season and retired on 51.
Dean Abbott also retired on 19 to give two youngsters an opportunity to bat the side home.
Victory was achieved in the 29th over for the loss of only one wicket.
This week the division four Lions will play the Northern Raiders at Noorat on Saturday.
The three junior sides all performed well with the bat on the first day of their two-day games.
The under 17s were dismissed in their final over against Port Fairy for 186 at Noorat.
Captain Max Heffernan retired on 67 from 92 balls with two sixes and two fours.
Caleb Bamford made 23 from 28, Hugh Kenna 17 from 22, Ollie Clarke 12 from 26, Jack Farrell with 11 and Riley McIntosh with 10 were the other main scorers.
Port Fairy will chase this total next Tuesday.
The under 15s batted their 45 overs to reach 9/205 at the Warrnambool College ground against Nestles.
Liam Kenna with 51 and Ollie Clarke with 50 put on 97 for the opening partnership.
Handy contributions came from Harper Dillon with 18 not out and Archer Gleeson 7 not out at the end.
Brad Wallace also made 10 with sundries providing a sizeable contribution of 43.
The Lions will attempt to keep Nestles below this total on Friday evening.
The Mortlake Noorat Terang under 13s batted first and at the end of 24 overs were 2/104.
Braxton Sachs was 34 not out from 45 balls with Zac Clarke 1 not out from 23.
Earlier Alex Gubbins made 31 off 47 and Leo Slater 10 from 15.
Allansford-Panmure started their innings and were 2/40 from 11 overs when play was stopped.
Leo Slater opened the bowling and after three balls had 2/0 and finished with 2/1.
Allansford Panmure will continue batting on Saturday morning.