Sport
13 February, 2025
Reunion a day to remember
THERE was plenty of memories shared, stories told and laughs had during last Saturday night’s special reunion celebrations at the Noorat Terang Lions Cricket Club rooms.
Saturday night saw the celebration of three past premierships – the 1994/95 MECCA A grade Noorat and A reserve Terang teams, along with the 2004/05 Noorat side (which defeated Terang by two wickets).
Several players from all three sides enjoyed the night’s celebrations, along with current players and supporters.
Throughout the night many acquaintances were renewed and several humorous anecdotes were shared by speakers, both live and via video.
Visitors also enjoyed the opportunity to view a mural of the history of both clubs (and the newly merged Lions).
The mural was the work of Jake Densley and now adorns the four walls of the clubrooms; creating plenty of discussion and memories.
As a prelude to the reunion evening, Noorat Terang Lions Cricket Club contested three matches during the day.
The firsts’ match could be classed as ‘in the balance,’ the seconds faulted in their run chase and thirds once again won a nail-biter.
On the Turf at Terang, the firsts were in battle with fourth side Koroit.
Winning the toss, the Lions elected to bat, with most of the top order making good starts without anyone going on to make a big score.
Tyson Hay top scored with 42 off 73 balls with six boundaries, Isaac Kenna 37 off 75 with five boundaries and Isaac Toombs 34 off 49 with four boundaries and a six.
Stephen O’Connor contributed 27 from 56 balls with four boundaries, Gus Bourke 23 from 40 with three boundaries and Dom Moloney 17 from 47 balls (three boundaries).
The lower order collapsed, losing the last four wickets for 14 runs to be bowled out in the 68th over for 216.
Koroit had nine overs to face.
Gus Bourke and Tyson Hay removed both openers to have the visitors 2-12 needing another 205 runs for victory from a possible 80 overs.
The seconds were at Noorat against Dennington, with the visitors batting first.
After a promising start with the bat, at 1-87 the Lions fought back with the ball to have them 7-128 only to have the lower order rally and push the total out to 8-185 off 45 overs.
Martin Wynd proved to be the most effective and economical of the bowlers taking 2-25 from nine.
Andrew Battistello brought up his 150th wicket to finish with 1-29 from nine.
Charlie Scanlon 1-26 from eight and Brett Hunger 1-18 from five were economical as well.
Hugh Giblin and Liam Venn combined for two run outs.
After an early wicket, Dave Conheady and Harry Schrama combined for a 44 run, second wicket partnership.
Conheady scored 33 from 54 with five boundaries and Schrama 25 from 48 with two boundaries.
From 2-77 the batting struggled and the team was dismissed for 110 in the 34th over.
Hugh Giblin’s 13 was the next best.
This weekend’s match takes on great significance when they play Nestles on turf at the Walter Oval.
Winning is important to keep their finals hopes alive.
In a low scoring affair at Panmure, the thirds were able to defend 105 against Allansford Panmure.
Michael Payne top scored with 35 from 54, contributing much of the teams score before his dismissal.
Toby Robert’s, in his 100th game, couldn’t have chosen a better time to make his highest score this season finishing with 25 from 45 with two fours.
Jack Kenna (11) and Sam Lillico (10) were the only others to reach double figures as the team left nearly six overs of batting go.
Young opening bowlers Darcy Abbott 1-26 and Charlie Roberts 2-11, backed up by the experienced pair of Tom Conheady 2-15 and Dean Abbott 1-15, reduced the opposition to 6-44.
Allansford Panmure struck back with a 42 run seventh wicket partnership to swing the game back in their favour.
Eamon O’Connor ended the partnership and the pressure was turned around as the last three wickets were all run outs and they were dismissed eight runs shy of victory.
In a team effort in the field, eight players contributed to the catches and run outs.
This Saturday they will host Port Fairy at Noorat and victory will see them hold their one game advantage on the ladder in second spot.
The under 15s ended their season losing to Allansford Panmure who made 9-133 off 24 overs.
Flynn Gleeson produced his best figures for the season taking 4-10.
Single wickets were taken by Paddy Scanlon, Liam Kenna and Harry Beaton.
With the bat Jack Farrell was the highest scorer with 23 while Olie Clarke was not out 10.
The Lions batted their 24 overs to finish 9-70.
Allansford Panmure was too strong with the bat in the under 13s, making 4-285 against the Lions’ 9-144.
Olie Clarke bowled four overs 1-5, Braxton Sachs 1-16 and Noah Conheady 1-21 were the wicket takers.
With the bat, Sachs made 12 and Harry Beaton 11 to go with Liam Kenna’s 42ret and Clarke’s 15 from last week.
They are the only junior team still playing, with the second week of the game against Nestles this Saturday at the Warrnambool College Oval.
They will also play a consolation final against Spring Creek on February 22.
At the half-way mark of the Lions innings, Liam Kenna is finishing off the season with back to back retired scores with 40.
Olie Clarke is 29 not out and after 24 overs they were 1-93.
Nestles is 1-107, with Bradley Wallace taking a caught and bowled.
This game is evenly poised.