Sport
17 December, 2025
Fourth consecutive loss for Knights
COBDEN lost their fourth consecutive game after going down to Birregurra by 23 runs in the round nine Colac-South West premier division cricket match on Saturday.
Birregurra captain Liam Hammond won the toss and elected to bat first at the Cobden Community Bank Recreation Reserve, with the visitors posting 9/228 from their 50 overs.
Hammond led the way for the Saints scoring his maiden century, an even 100 from 121 balls before he was bowled by Brandon Goodhall.
Parker Walsh, Eddie Walsh and Matt Harkin took two wickets each, Harkin the only Cobden bowler to go for under four runs an over, conceding 34 runs from 10 overs.
In reply Cobden slumped to 8/97 before Eddie Walsh and Matt Harkin combined to put on 77 for the ninth wicket.
When Harkin was dismissed for 26 from 30 balls, Cobden still required 55 to win.
Batting at number eight, left hander Walsh continued what was an extraordinary innings before being the last man out with the score on 205 in the 48th over.
Walsh smashed 85 from 52 balls, hitting six fours and five sixes in his first half century of the season.
The result sees Cobden drop to eighth place going into the holiday break.
This Saturday sees the three round Twenty20 knockout competition, with Cobden hosting Woorndoo at 10.30am at the Cobden Recreation Reserve in the first sudden death match.
The division two Knights had the bye, with their next game being on January 17.
In the division three game at Woorndoo, Cobden had an eight wicket win.
After being 0/41, the Knights bowlers took 10 wickets to dismiss the home team for 82.
Steve Benallack led the bowlers with 2/9 from eight overs, with Eamon Sloane taking 2/19 from five.
Benallack, with an unbeaten 27 from 43 balls, and Broly Henderson with 28 not out from 57 led the run chase, the Knights passing Woorndoo’s score two wickets down.
The division three Knights, third on the ladder going into the break, also return on January 17.
In the under 13s on Monday night, Cobden lost to Pomborneit at Pomborneit.
The junior Knights batted first, making 8/83 from their 24 overs.
Charlie Dunn top scored with 14 from 21 balls, with opener Braxton Srdoc making nine off 17.
In reply Pomborneit passed the score in the 18th over, finishing on 7/103.
Carter Murfett led the Cobden bowling with 2/3 off 1.5 overs, with Will Pitman, Charlie Dunn, Henry Bourchier and Anderson Pekin taking a wicket each.
The next game for the under 13 Knights after the Christmas break is on January 19.
The Cobden women’s cricket side had a thumping nine wicket win over Wangoom in round nine of Warrnambool Moyne District Cricket Association on Sunday.
Cobden skipper Abbie Hanks won the toss and sent Wangoom in to bat at the Wangoom Recreation Reserve, with the home team making 8/102 from their 25 overs.
Wangoom was in a good position at 3/73 before Rachel O'Keeffe took three wickets.
“They got away from us a bit in the middle,” Hanks said.
“Rachel came on, bowled really straight and locked them down.”
O’Keeffe finished with 3/9 from four overs, with Olivia Coburn taking 2/20.
“Olivia bowled well and made one of the best run outs I’ve seen.
“"We were happy to keep them to 102.”
It took Cobden just 11.2 overs to run down Wangoom’s score, losing just the one wicket.
Hanks made her highest score of the season, with 35 retired from 22 balls, hitting five fours and a six.
“It was nice for the ball to finally come off the bat well.”
Anna Dickson was not out on 21 from 23 balls when the winning runs were scored.
“Anna is a player we can always rely on, she runs really well between wickets and batted really well.”
The win puts Cobden up to sixth position at the Christmas break.
“We’re going well, we’ve lost a few close ones but it’s nice to be in the top six.
“We have a decent draw in the second half of the year, we’ve never made the finals in Warrnambool so that is definitely the aim.”
In the South West women’s competition last Wednesday, Cobden Blue defeated Ecklin by 32 runs, while Cobden Gold had a 50 run loss to Bookaar.
Blue batted first at Ecklin, making 2/113, with Jess Walsh scoring 30 retired and Mikayla Hein 24.
In reply Ecklin made 6/81, with Katie Hansford taking 3/13 from four overs.
At South Purrumbete, Bookaar batted first against Cobden Gold, making 5/117.
Phoebe Harris led the Gold bowling with 3/22 from four overs.
In reply, Gold could only manage 4/67, with skipper Ingrid Bellman top scoring with 32 retired from 26 balls.
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