Sport
21 October, 2025
Clunes fall just short of Beaufort target of 200
Beaufort recorded their first win of the new MDCA A grade season with a hard-fought victory away from home against Clunes by 27 runs.
Some valuable middle-order contributions from recruits Theo Trevelyan-Clark and Brandon Walsh allowed the Bulls to set a target of 200 for the Magpies.
Despite a surging 71-run partnership between Mitch Coppick and Nick Hind putting Clunes back into the match after Benjamin Grant caused a top-order collapse, Thomas Grant sealed the deal with three crucial wickets for the Bulls.
Clunes won the toss and sent the visitors into bat, looking to make some early inroads in club legend Mark Allen’s record-breaking 279th A grade game for the Magpies.
The bowling pair of Sam Williams and Brad Stevenson had openers Joshua Lofts and Jarrod Blandford in trouble early, but Clunes couldn’t capitalise, dropping numerous catches including two tough chances in the first three overs.
Lofts and Blandford managed to regroup for a 68-run opening stand before the Magpies finally got their breakthrough when Blandford chopped a Brett Coon delivery back onto his stumps after making 31.
With renewed confidence, the floodgates began to open for Clunes as Dylan Davies bowled Lofts for 23 and Coon trapped Lyle Aichroth with an LBW for one.
After seemingly cruising at 0/68, Beaufort were quickly 3/70 and in desperate need of some steadiness.
Their new pairing of Lachlan Oddie and Trevelyan-Clark was able to provide that, with Trevelyan-Clark putting some pressure back on the hosts.
The partnership generated 41 runs before Oddie was bowled by Hind for five, putting the Bulls at 4/111.
An entertaining innings from Trevelyan-Clark came to an end shortly thereafter, caught by Coon off the bowling of Stevenson after scoring 41 with seven boundaries.
With Beaufort at 5/138, captain Walsh and Thomas Grant were tasked with adding some insurance runs at the death.
Williams made that task tricky by bowling Thomas Grant for 14 before doing the same to Benjamin Grant after he made six.
Walsh was a thorn in the Magpies’ side, meticulously working to his 50 before Williams picked up his third wicket when Walsh was caught by Brenton Jones with the Bulls at 8/199.
Noah Davies ended an impressive spell of bowling by cleaning up the tail for Clunes, with Joel Pymer and Craig Grant bowled for seven and naught respectively, ensuring Beaufort ended on 199.
Walsh’s 50 was the top score of the innings, while Williams was the pick of the Magpies bowlers after recording figures of 3/45.
The opening pairing of Jones and Noah Davies was tasked with kick starting the hosts’ run chase against the Beaufort bowling brigade boasting some new faces.
One of those fresh faces was Benjamin Grant, who proceeded to leave a trail of destruction following a terrific five-over spell.
The rising star first got rid of Jones for six thanks to a great catch from wicketkeeper Craig Grant to put Clunes at 1/15. Then, he dismissed Brendan Ingram, caught by Thomas Grant for a duck.
When Benjamin Grant added a third wicket by ending the threatening Noah Davies, who hit five fours on his way to making 28, Beaufort were in command with Clunes at 3/44.
Allen and Coppick attempted to turn the tide for the Magpies, but the Bulls looked poised to stampede their opponent when Allen was caught by Blake Jantzen off the bowling of Thomas Grant for seven.
In desperate need of a game-turning stand, Hind and Coppick started to generate some needed momentum for the hosts.
With the questions now being placed on Beaufort, Thomas Grant put the visitors back in control by bowling Hind for a well-made 41.
Thomas Grant was at it again, knocking the stumps of Williams for one to push Clunes closer to the cliff edge at 6/141.
Coppick continued to push Clunes forward, but he was slowly running out of time and partners, with Dylan Davies next to go for seven after being bowled by Blandford.
As he was forced to take risks, Coppick was eventually caught by Benjamin Grant right on the boundary for 46, with Walsh taking the vital wicket.
Walsh finished the job by bowling Brad Stevenson for eight and combining with Craig Grant to stump Fred Penhall with the very next ball to put the exclamation point on the Bulls’ victory.
Coon was left stranded not out on seven.
Benjamin Grant was exceptional with the ball, picking up figures of 3/9 with three maidens, well supported by Thomas Grant (3/22 off eight overs) and Walsh (3/10 off 3.4 overs).