Sport
5 December, 2025
USC-Marthaguy wins again in ABC Shield
USC-Marthaguy has continued a strong post-harvest run while the unbeaten ladder leaders Gular, Town Services and Coonabarabran were other winners in round four of the Bendigo Bank ABC Shield cricket last weekend.
By Dallas Reeves
Round four of the Gilgandra District Cricket Association (GDCA) 2025/2026 competition again featured some interesting match-ups.
The first contest of the round was the day-nighter between Town Services and Biddon-Tooraweenah at McGrane Oval on Friday, November 28, also a grand final replay from 2024/2025.
However, the match result was reversed this time around.
Biddon-Tooraweenah scored 8-191 off its 40 overs batting first and that looked a good total, but Town Services (5-194 in 38.5 overs) managed to run that competitive score down.
Jon Kilby’s big-hitting 70 was the backbone of Biddon-Tooraweenah’s (BT) innings.
His knock included six sixes and the most support came from Paul Lambell (24) and Ethan Smith (23).
Adam Hazelton (2-11 off eight overs) while Mark Temple (3-50 off seven overs) was also in the wickets but had to contend with Kilby’s lusty blows before eventually bowling him.
For Town Services (TS), Liam Zell (76 not out), skipper Ashley Hazelton (52 not out) and Kieren Hazelton (34) batted well, guiding TS to victory.
Oscar Spora (3-27 off eight overs) returned BT’s best figures while Kilby (1-18 off eight overs) had a great all-round game but it wasn’t enough to stop TS.
Meanwhile, with the other three matches on the regular Saturday date (November 29), Gular continued it’s perfect record with a win against Dunedoo at Dunedoo.
Gular smashed 210 batting first and was able to knock over Dunedoo for 85 in a comprehensive 125-run success at Dunedoo.
Gular skipper Brandon Hammond led the way with 66, while Jason Carter (61) and Jaylem Peters (27) also contributed in the big total where two other players made double figures.
Jake Besgrove (4-18 off four overs) had Dunedoo’s best bowling figures while Nathan Duce (2-44 off eight overs) and Oliver Chamings (2-38 off five overs) also picked up multiple scalps for Dunedoo.
Max McKenzie (20) and Chamings (18) made double figures for the hosts.
Every Gulargambone bowler impressed as the wickets were shared around in the comprehensive win with Preston Ah-See taking 3-14 off five overs, Slater Peters (2-14) and Jerome Chatfield (2-21) also bagging multiples.
USC-Marthaguy travelled to Coonamble to meet Gidgee and returned to Warren happy after a 29-run success engineered by a match-defining doubles with Ben Storer’s 28 and 4-10 the highlight.
Batting was tough work for both sides, despite the visitors electing to bat after winning the toss.
Hugh Duncan (29), Storer (28) and Will Young (13) were USC-Marthaguy’s best in their 101 all out, however, the lack of runs wasn’t through a lack of application as they batted 38.5 overs to accumulate that total.
All of Gidgee’s bowlers were economical, but Jarrod Rae (5-14 off eight overs) was the major wicket-taker while Andrew Peacock (1-18) and Justin Fernando (1-15) also delivered excellent figures in bowling their maximum overs and Joe Keady (1-12 off five overs) impressed with the new ball.
Gidgee couldn’t muster the runs in reply, being knocked over for 72 inside 25 overs.
Gidgee skipper Brenton Williams (29) did his best to keep his side in the match while Mitch Nalder added 19.
Storer’s 4-10 was the highlight, while Duncan (1-4 off four overs) and Young (1-23 in four overs) also added to their batting and Hayden Brett (4-33 off eight overs) played a key role with the ball.
Coonabarabran and Curban met at Coonabarabran and the hosts secured an important six-wicket success.
Curban won the toss and batted but were dismissed for 65 in 26.5 overs.
Cameron Whittall (2-9 off eight overs), Ben Hjort (2-11 off 5.5 overs), Koopa Thomspon (2-11 off four overs) and Zane Jenner (2-12 off four overs) all starred for Coonabarabran.
Anthony Barry (22 not out) and Zac Mills (19) were Curban’s best with the bat.
Coonabarabran batted well in reply, with Steve Hallett (36) and Thompson (18 not out) steering the side home.
Jasen Starr (2-37 off 4.5 overs), Kane Younghusband (1-8 off four overs) and Doug Kelly (1-11 off three overs).
After four rounds, Gular (28) sits well clear atop the table with four wins from as many matches.
Multiple teams have two wins including Biddon-Tooraweenah, Town Services, Dunedoo, USC-Marthaguy and Coonabarabran, so an interesting season looms.
In round five on Saturday, December 6, Curban hosts Gular at McGrane Oval, Gilgandra, USC-Marthaguy is home to Biddon-Tooraweenah at Victoria Oval, Warren, Gidgee will be looking for a win against Dunedoo at Coonamble Sportsground and Coonabarabran is home again, this time to Town Services.
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