Sport
19 February, 2026
Bendigo Bank ABC Shield cricket: Gulargambone seals minor premiership
Gular has secured the minor premiership with two rounds left in Bendigo Bank ABC Shield cricket
Gular secured victory in the Bendigo Bank ABC Shield top-of-the-table clash against Curban at Gulargambone Sportsground on Saturday, February 14 to seal the 2025/2026 Gilgandra District Cricket Association minor premiership with two rounds left.
The 18-run success means Brandon Hammond’s outfit is 14 points clear on top-of-the-table and simply need to turn up and play across the next fortnight to lock top spot.
On the same day Gidgee prevailed in a thriller against Dunedoo at Dunedoo by just nine runs and Biddon-Tooraweenah applied scoreboard pressure to build a 37-run success against USC-Marthaguy at Tooraweenah Oval.
In the Friday night (February 13) match at McGrane Oval, Gilgandra, Town Services (201) defeated Coonabarabran (77).
There is just nine points between second and sixth so an intriguing final fortnight in February awaits before finals commence in March.
It was a case of bat first, apply pressure and win in round 12, with all four teams that tasted success putting the batting pads on first.
Captains knock propels hosts to victory in tight contest
Gular skipper Brandon Hammond hit an important 72 not out as Gular (9-155 off 40 overs) just held out an in-form Curban (137 all out in 37.3 overs).
Hammond struck five fours and five sixes and guided his team to a decent score.
Five other Gular batters made double figures with Peter Peters Jnr (17) the best of that group.
Anthony Barry (4-26), Greg Younghusband (2-18) and Scott Chandler (0-15) were all hard to get away with Harry Mudford collecting 2-12 in two overs.
Curban batted well in partnerships chasing the total and were 3-97 at one stage in the 28th over and in a solid position which was further solidified at 5-126 with eight overs remaining.
Slater Peters (3-44 off five overs) was expensive but picked up crucial wickets by removing Andrew Peart (24) and Greg Younghusband (22).
Peter Peters Jnr (2-13 off four overs), Jason Carter (2-20 off four overs) and finally Peter Peters Snr (2-3 off 2.3 overs) grabbed the rest of the wickets.
Brandon Hammond (0-14), Jaylem Peters (0-22) and Patrick Ah-See (0-19) conceded just 53 runs in 20 overs.
Marshall Parker (23), Andrew Newstead (18) and Luke Haling (17) also made starts for Curban.
Gular’s win was its 10th of the season and ended Curban’s run of six straight successes.
Biddon-Toora continues good form
A destructive 66 from Paul Lambell has helped Biddon-Tooraweenah (3-163 off 40 overs) to a 37-run victory against USC-Marthaguy (126 all out in 34.4 overs) a
Lambell hit five fours and three sixes and had a big unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership of 120 runs in a tick under 22 overs with Luke Harrison (47 not out). Jaimie Zell earlier added 21.
USC-Marthaguy’s attack was disciplined with Harry Gaynor (0-7 from seven overs) economical. Hayden Brett (2-35 off eight overs) and Nate O’Mally (1-27 off five overs) were the wicket-takers.
In reply, the Warren-based side was well-placed at 2-78 off 21 overs but after Mark Glasson (12) was removed, USC-Marthaguy lost a further seven wickets for just 48 overs.
Brenton Montgomery (63) was the glue holding the visitors together but he fell at 8-123 and the innings was over soon after. Richard Flinn had earlier made 20.
Biddon-Tooraweenah’s bowling attack defended the total well as a team. Jeremy Cosier (3-29) and Lachlan Ferguson (2-34) both bowled eight overs and collected the most wickets.
Lambell (1-20 off five overs) capped off a great day and Jon Kilby (1-16 off seven overs) and Bailey Wykes (1-8 off 3.4 overs) also did well.
Gidgee scores crucial win
Gidgee kept itself in the finals race with a critical nine-run away win at Dunedoo.
The visitors batted first and compiled 121 all out in 32 overs.
Six players made double figures while Mark Stewart and skipper Brenton Williams both top-scoring with 20. Ronnie Hertel and Joe Goldsmith both also scored 17, Goldsmith unbeaten.
Shaun Coe (5-33 off eight overs) was Dunedoo’s star with the ball while Max McKenzie (2-26) and Nathan Duce (2-29) were also good in eight-over efforts.
Dunedoo was at one point 1-47 in the ninth over in reply, but then lost 8-39 to be reeling at 9-86 before Robbie Johnstone-Greaves (14 not out) and Oscar Christensen (12) did their best to get the home side home.
However, Jarrod Rae (2-38 off 7.4 overs) had other ideas, bowling brave Dunedoo number 11 Christensen to seal victory, Dunedoo removed for 112 in just 25.4 overs.
Gidgee’s four bowlers used shared the wickets. Joe Goldsmith (3-23) was the only one to bowl his maximum eight overs, with Joe Keady (3-23 off six overs) and Nick Bush (2-17 off four overs) all performing well.
Ashley Johnstone (35) and Jacob Besgrove (16) had earlier added 42 runs for the third wicket for Dunedoo.
Town Services crushes Coonabarabran
Two other sides still in finals contention will be wary after last season’s grand finalists Town Services put a real dent in Coonabarabran’s finals hopes in the day-nighter at McGrane Oval, Gilgandra.
Town Services, won the toss, batted and posted a formidable total of 201.
Town Services skipper Ashley Hazelton made 82, while Isaac Grimshaw (28) and Adam Hazelton (24) supported well.
David Osmond (5-24) and Anthony Harris (3-21) bowled well for Coonabarabran.
In reply, despite Nick Willoughby’s 49 in a cameo appearance, Coonabarabran was removed for just 77.
Ashley Hazelton capped off a great match with 3-3, spectacular figures Alex Sutherland also achieved. Adam Hazelton (1-29) and Mark Temple (1-32) also bowled well early.
“Dot balls built pressure … pressure created chances … chances become wickets,” the Coonabarabran Cricket Club report on social media read.
“Town Services were simply too good – a complete performance with bat and ball and a well-earned win.”
Town meets Gidgee (round 13) and USC-Marthaguy (round 14) to end their 2025/2026 season and while they can only get to 59 points with a pair of wins, not enough for play-offs, they can do real damage to the finals prospects of both sides they meet.
Unofficial Bendigo Bank ABC Shield ladder after round 12: Gular 78 (10 wins), Curban 64 (seven wins), Biddon-Tooraweenah 60 (six wins), Dunedoo 56 (five wins), Gidgee 55 (five wins), USC-Marthaguy 55 (five wins), Coonabarabran 49 (four wins), Town Services 45 (four wins).
Round 13 draw: Gidgee v Town Services at Coonamble Sportsground; Coonabarabran v Dunedoo at Coonabarabran; Curban v Biddon-Tooraweenah at McGrane Oval, Gilgandra, USC-Marthaguy v Gular at Victoria Park, Warren.