Cricket
5 March, 2026
Junior grand finals decided
The Horsham Cricket Association junior grand finals will take place on Monday, March 9, following a rain-affected weekend of semifinal action.
The under-14 grand final sees the Bullants taking on the Horsham Tigers at Horsham City Oval from 9am.
Inclement weather saw neither semifinal go ahead on Saturday, with the Bullants and Tigers advancing over Blackheath Dimboola and the Dunmunkle Renegades after finishing top two on the ladder during the home and away season.
The Bullants will enter Monday as favourites, having gone unbeaten all season, while having double the net run rate of the Tigers.
Defining the Bullants’ season is the team's consistent contributions.
This is highlighted by having six of the top 15 run scorers, led by Milton Ellis and Judd Oakley.
But the Tigers have firepower of their own, including Arkie Mackley, who has scored 202 runs during the year while being dismissed just once.
With the ball, Felix Foster and Tex Askew have starred for the Tigers all season, with 11 and 10 wickets, respectively.
The under-16 grand final follows the under-14 final at City Oval, commencing from 12pm.
Both semifinals got underway on Friday, February 27, but rain disrupted play, forcing both games to be abandoned.
At Dimboola Road Oval, the Tigers were bowled out for 89 by Homers, led by 20 runs from Cody Stewart.
Charlie Hopper led Homers with 4/11, while Phoenix Hopper had an economical 1/5 from four overs.
Rain prevented Homers from attempting their run chase, and with Tigers finishing higher on the ladder, they advanced to the grand final.
At Minyip Recreation Reserve, the Renegades were bowled out for 81, led by 21 runs from Harry Noonan and 15 from Jake McKenzie.
Isaac Thomas led the Bullants with 2/3, and Mason Hair had 2/26.
Jack Combe (32) and Isaac Thomas (15 not out) helped the side to 1/57 before rain suspended play.
Having finished first in the regular season, the Rengades advanced to the grand final and will take on the Tigers.
The decider is evenly poised, with each side defeating the other once during the season.
Both sides have multiple gamechangers with the bat, with the Tigers boasting the competition-leading runscorer in Joel Plazzer (284 runs at 40.57), while Callum Jackson has amassed an impressive 221 runs at an average of 36.83.
For the Panthers, Jake McKenzie has totalled 252 runs at 31.50, while Hugh Weidemann leads the competition in batting average, having scored 232 runs at 77.33.