Sport
6 March, 2026
Premiership drought broken
A 22-year drought was broken on Sunday when Pomborneit won its first South West Cricket Association under 16 boys’ premiership since the 2003/04 season with a 45 run win over Cobden.
Pomborneit elected to bat first at SA Wright Oval after winning the toss, posting a highly competitive 8/155 from its 35 overs.
Co-captains George Sadler and Josh Reynolds put on 41 for the first wicket before Sadler holed out to deep mid-wicket off Cobden off-spinner Eamon Sloane for 11 from 37 balls.
Reynolds and Jonty Raven then combined for a 50 run second wicket partnership before Reynolds was caught at backward square leg for 42 which included four boundaries.
Raven was the key to the junior Bulls reaching their eventual total, batting right to the end to make 48 not out from 55 balls, hitting six boundaries.
No other player made double figures in the Bulls total.
“The way Josh and George dug in against the new ball really set us up,” Pomborneit co-coach Simon Tolland said.
“But no-one on the day hit the ball better than Jonty, he helped turn a middling score into a strong score.”
After new ball bowler Max Rees took an early wicket, the Cobden top order settled in and scored quickly, led by number three Max Slater.
A sharp pick up and throw from Sam Tolland to wicket-keeper Sadler saw Slater caught short, run out for 17 from 23 balls.
From that point on the Bulls attack made it hard for Cobden to score, the Knights falling well behind in the run rate.
“We bowled a lot of dot balls which put a lot of pressure on them.
“Our fielding was mostly really tight, we’ve really put a lot into fielding at training and it has showed not only on Sunday but all season with this team.”
Advertisement
Spinners Alex Huggins and Josh Reynolds put further clamps on Cobden with tight bowling.
Off-spinner Huggins took 1/8 from five overs, with leg-spinner Reynolds conceding 10 runs from six overs with two maidens.
“Alex has only been bowling spin for three months, he was exceptional, he bowled full and proved hard to score off.
“Josh did what we know he can do, he was unlucky not to get a wicket or two but certainly did his job.”
Hugo Saarikallio was brought back for the 34th over and took two wickets, with Max Rees taking the final wicket with the third ball of the final over.
Rees finished with 3/8 from 5.3 overs.
“Max has been outstanding all season, he’s led our attack and he thoroughly deserved to take the winning wicket.”
Umpires Don Pyke and Kevin Robertson post match awarded Jonty Raven with the player of the match medal.
Tolland said the win after 22 years was a nice affirmation for the work put into the club’s junior program.
“Development is always our aim but it is nice to get the trophy.
“Even though there’s only four teams it’s been a very high quality competition, Cobden recruited some very good players to play in the comp so we knew to win it we’d have to play at our best so it’s very pleasing that we did just that.”
Read More: Pomborneit