Sport
27 November, 2025
Lions defeat last season's minor premiers
NOORAT Terang clinched a nail-biting win against last season’s minor premiers Dennington in the round six division one premier match at Walter Oval.
Having almost batted their allotted overs last week, the Lions set Dennington 178 from 80 overs.
On a wicket that offered bowlers very little it was a case of bowl tight, field well and hold your catches.
After missing a big opportunity off the third ball of the innings, it took first change bowler Ryan Mottram to make a breakthrough when the score was 24.
Mottram featured in the next dismissal, with a great diving catch at cover to see Dennington 2/52 in the 27th over.
This was Gus Bourke’s first of four wickets which he achieved off a marathon 30 overs, over two spells.
The home side was cruising at 2/123 in the 54th over when the game was flipped on its head.
Darcy Abbott (in his first over) made the important breakthrough and from then on there was a consistent fall of wickets. The ninth fell in the 75th over at 167.
When the last over started they needed seven to win, but the innings was ended when co-captain Tim Delaney rattled the stumps, giving the Lions a five run victory.
Bourke finished with 4/53 from 30 overs, while Tyson Hay bowled an important second spell to take 2/22 from 10.
Tim Delaney finished with 2/32 from 14.2 overs and proved difficult to get away.
Mottram bowled his best spells of the season in taking 1/24 from 12.
Darcy Abbott took 1/14 and the unlucky Tim Keane 0/13 from seven.
Special mention to keeper Luke Kenna who had the ball coming through low on many occasions - only two byes got through and importantly he took two catches.
This win reaffirms that the club is on the right path and worthy of its promotion to the top division.
This week the division one premier Lions return to the Terang Turf to commence a two-day match against Warrnambool.
SUNGOLD DIVISION 1 - PREMIER
TWO DAY MATCH
Dennington v Noorat Terang
Dennington 10/173 (79.2) lost to Noorat Terang 10/178 (77.1)
In division two, the Lions were at Terang on the turf against West Warrnambool and were in early trouble, losing two wickets in the second over.
Starting the fifth over they were 3/10, with most of the scoring attributed to wides.
Lachlan Primmer and Dom Moloney set about stemming the flow of wickets.
At 3/44 at the start of the 12th over Primmer went for 18 off 18 and Moloney followed two balls later for 13.
Dean Abbott was promoted to the seconds and got one that moved back when he was 19.
Once again Brett Hunger was called upon to improve the scoreline and along with Jaime Emerson, playing his first game for the Lions, they took the score from 78 to 126.
Hunger (27 off 48) and Emerson (13 off 14) were dismissed in consecutive balls.
Two under 17s players in Jack Farrell and Flynn Gleeson took the score out to 141.
The Lions started well with the ball and had them in trouble at 4/35 in the 13th over, with wickets to Primmer and Farrell and two to Jack McConnell.
The fifth wicket took awhile to get and fell in the 30th over at 101.
The seventh wicket stand took the visitors to scores level with plenty of overs to spare.
Brett Hunger finished with two wickets and Ollie Clarke one.
This weekend division two move out to Noorat to play Nestles.
After a promising start, the division four Lions came up against a bowler for Wangoom who had been playing in a higher division and moved the ball about to take six wickets.
Father/son combo Tom and Noah Conheady were the highlight of the innings, with both making their highest senior score; Tom 35 and Noah 16, and combined with a 52 run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Openers John Clarke with 21 and Mark Lillico with 11 were the only others to reach double figures in a total of 114.
The six wicket taker then hit 31 off 32 balls and Wangoom was able to pass the total six wickets down at the end of the 35th over.
Sam Lillico bowled another good spell taking 2-12 off six overs.
Tom Conheady took 1/23 off eight overs, Jessie Unthank 2/36 from eight and Lucia Clarke 1/3 from two.
The division four Lions side heads to Bushfield to play North Warrnambool this weekend.
The under 17s were chasing a big total of 258 and were able to bat out their 38 overs, finishing with 6-141.
Max Heffernan led the way with 48 off 91 balls, with Hugh Kenna 27 not out off only 24 balls.
Sam Lillico with 16 and Jack Farrell with 13 were the other main contributors.
The under 17s game next Tuesday will be the start of a two-day game against Port Fairy at Noorat.
The under 15s were chasing 218 at Panmure and got to 157 off 42 overs.
Run outs were an issue for the side.
Ollie Clarke top scored with 42 off 64 balls, Liam Kenna made 29 from 62, Riley McIntosh 19 from 30 and Braxton Sachs 12 from 31.
This week the under 15s will play Nestles at the Warrnambool College oval.
The under 13s played a one-day game against Allansford Panmure and went down by 15 runs.
Allansford Panmure batted first and made 3-120 off their 24 overs.
All players bowled, with Zach Dolling, Remy Herry and Aiden Richard taking a wicket each.
In reply, the Mortlake Noorat Terang combine finished at 1/105 with Braxton Sachs 23 retired, Alex Gubbins 21 retired and sundries 46 being the best contributor.
This Saturday they will start a two-day game against the other Allansford Panmure side.
This Saturday also sees the Noorat Terang Lions run its first Goods and Services Auction at the Noorat Recreation Reserve from 6pm.