Sport
23 October, 2025
Historic first win for Lions
NOORAT Terang achieved an historic first win in the WMDCA premier division, defeating last season’s premiers Northern Raiders at Purnim on Saturday.
The Raiders got off to a flyer and a score of 300 looked to be on the cards.
Their top order bats were in cracking form, taking to Ryan Mottram and Liam Geary and hitting both out of the attack.
A pearler of a delivery by Gus Bourke removed their attacking opener who had made 19 off 12 balls, having hit two sixes.
Geary, who had been on the receiving end of Joe Gordon’s hitting, got lucky when he hit one straight to Tim Keane when he was 46 off only 29 balls.
New spin twins Tim Keane and import Ben Woodward turned things around and the run rate slowed.
Woodward had an impressive game taking 3-15 from nine overs.
Tyson Hay replaced Keane at the end of his nine overs for 1-41, started to use the slow ball and at one stage was on a hat-trick to finish with 2-31.
In only his third game in the ones Darcy Abbott was impressive, taking 2-9 from four overs.
Captaining solo for the first time this season, Bailey Kavenagh led in the field taking two catches with last season’s captains Geary and Stephen O’Connor both taking a catch.
The Raiders were dismissed at the end of the 41st over for 180.
In reply the Lion’s got off to a great start, adding 83 for the first wicket when Mottram was caught in the deep for 34 off 45 balls with three fours and a six.
Woodward was out 20 runs later after having notched his first half century for the club, finishing with 59 off 70 balls with seven boundaries.
Another two quick wickets followed and the Lions were 4-108.
A direct throw ended Oscar Ritchie’s innings when he was 16, Bourke went first ball and at 6-127 things were looking a little shaky.
However, through all this was a very important captains knock by Kavenagh.
Even when Geary’s cover drive was caught and the score was 7-143 he was joined by the club’s most experienced and decorated player in Keane, with the pair preceding to get the remaining runs without losing their wickets in the 43rd over.
Kavenagh remained 31 not out off 70 balls and in the process brought up his 1500th run.
Keane was 16 not out off 27 balls.
This weekend the side travels to Allansford to play Allansford Panmure, which is drawn for the turf but may have to be moved to the hard wicket oval.
The second and third elevens start their season this week with the division two side on the Terang Turf against West Warrnambool while the thirds host Spring Creek at Noorat.
The under 15s started a two-day game against Nestles at Noorat last Friday.
Batting first the young Lions posted 119 off 29.3 overs.
Hugh Kenna was equal top scorer with 20 along with Lucia Clarke who held the innings together.
Ollie Clarke contributed 15 however sundries were the main contributor with 45.
Nestles had five overs to face with Lucia Clarke backing up her batting by taking the only wicket to fall.
Nestles will resume on Friday at 1-14.
The under 17s started a two-day game at Dennington on Tuesday afternoon and batted first.
With only eight players the side managed to bat 39 overs and make 7-145.
Lachlan Primmer 59 and Jack Farrell with 53 added 82 for the second wicket.
The side also fielded four players from the under 15s with Hugh Kenna the best with nine runs.
The under 13s have moved their first game from this Saturday to next Tuesday which will be played at the Warrnambool College Oval.
This season, due to a player shortage, the Noorat Terang side has joined forces with Mortlake to ensure there are enough players to make a team.
