Temora South West Slopes A Grade Premiers 2025-26
From the back left to right are: Chris Stacey, Pat Robinson, Ricky Potter, Corey Robinson, Cody Lynch, Edward Oliver, James Goode, Joe Rawson, Josh Gillard, Will Oliver and kneeling Josh McGregor.
Scores: Temora 106 defeated Cootamundra 63
By Pat Kerin
Temora have proved too strong over Cootamundra in the Southwest Cricket League [SWSCL] A Grade final played at Nixon Park on Saturday.
Temora winning the toss and batting, hoped to make a decent score; however, being bundled for just 106, that was more than enough though, as Cootamundra were bowled in the 27th over for only 63.
For Temora, Saturday’s win was only the second time winning in the eleven seasons of the SWSCL competition, having previously won the inaugural title as Mimosa in 2015-16.
Cody Lynch had the top score for Temora with 21, Chris Stacey made 20 and Matt Gillard 19.
From a strong position of 5/81, Temora were pushing for a decent score, perhaps 150, but they lost the last five wickets for just 24 runs. Not that that mattered in the final outcome.
Medium pacer Liam Hamilton was the pick of the Cootamundra bowlers, capturing 4/27 while 15-year-old leg spinner Roy Dunk chimed in with 3/18 from his eight overs.
Set a moderate total of 107 runs for victory, Cootamundra got away to a poor start, losing opener Joey Pall on the first ball.
From a solid position of 2/39, Cootamundra crashed to lose 8/24 to be all for 63.
Cootamundra skipper Scott Meale and Liam Hamilton both scored 25.
Temora’s bowling honours were evenly shared between Joe Rawson and Matt Gillard. Rawson snared 3/10 while Gillard captured 3/19.
Player of the final was Matt Gillard.
In the B Grade Final at Nixon Park 2, Burrangong were big winners over Cootamundra.
Winning the toss and batting, the boys from Young blasted their way to 6/231 from their 40 overs.
Openers Geoff Palmer and Josh Cameron belted their way to 61 in the ninth over. Cameron was first out for 33 while Palmer made 48.
The big hitting continued with Liam Miller making 50, while the icing on the cake was from former Harden cricketer Rob Barron, who smashed five sixes in his 19 ball 40 not out.
Burrangong’s aggressive batting saw them belt 12 sixes and 16 fours.
Cootamundra were never in the hunt of scoring 232 runs for victory.
Their captain, Phil Gay, top-scored 25. Gay’s knock included three consecutive sixes off Ethan Miller.
14-year-old Jack Shea was the star with the ball. The young leg spinner captured 3/3 from six overs.
Both Rob Barron and Geoff Palmer completed fine matches with the ball. Barron snared 2/7 from four overs while Palmer captured 2/6 from five overs.
Where Cootamundra dropped several catches, Burrangong showed safe hands taking seven catches.
Player of the final was Geoff Palmer.
Burrangong, who were a late nomination in B grade, went through the season undefeated and they look forward to playing A grade next season, where they will have much stronger opposition.
The C grade final was played at the Oval in Temora [hard pitch] between Temora Shamrock Hotel and Criterion Bin Chickens from Young.
Winning the toss but electing to field the Bin Chickens made 158 being bowled out in 39.3 overs with three balls to spare. The Temora side passed the Bin Chickens total in 30th, finishing 6/161.
Best with the bat for the Bin Chickens was again Delcan Hurcum who made 46 from 84 balls while more aggressive Kieran Richens made 33 runs 30 balls, his knock included six fours and one six.
Best with Temora Shamrock Hotel was Ryan Kemp 36 not out from just 25 balls. His knock included three sixes and three fours.
Player of the final was Ryan Kemp.
The two junior finals [Under 13’s and Under 16’s] were also held in Temora on Saturday morning.
The under-16s played at Nixon Park between Cootamundra and Young and went down to the last ball.
Cootamundra batting first made 9/106 from their 30 overs.
Harry Simons top scored for Cootamundra with 50 not out, retired.
Young needed seven runs to win off the last over and two runs from the last ball.
The batters Cole Bloor and Mitchell Schiller completed the two runs for an exciting victory.
Player of the final was Harry Simons.
The Under 13’s was played at played at The Oval between the two Young teams.
The Young Renegades 2/159 defeated Young Cato 5/91.
Junior presentations were held at Nixon Park one after the finals.
While the senior presentations were held at the Temora Bowling Club.
Next season the rotation of finals will continue with Young hosting the finals.
Finally, well done to the SWSCL executive led by President Ray Death from Young, our working Secretary Adam Swanston and Julian Drumore Treasurer who both hail from Temora.
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