Corowa holds nerve for first win of the season

Batting first, Corowa showed greater discipline and intent, led by a superb innings from Ben Fulford, whose 78 runs — including four fours and four sixes — proved the difference between the two sides. Fulford’s innings earned him Man of the Match honours.

Late in the innings, Blake Elliot provided valuable resistance with an unbeaten 16 not out, helping Corowa post a competitive 145.

Belvoir made a promising start in reply, but Corowa’s bowlers combined pressure and persistence to gradually turn the game in their favour.

Nick Grant (2/23) and Blake Elliot (2/17) made key breakthroughs in the middle overs, while Joe Lavis (2/32) and Hamish Starr (2/32) maintained control from the other end. Callum Langlands was also tidy finishing with 1/13.

The fielding effort was equally sharp, highlighted by two catches and a stumping from wicketkeeper Ben Fulford, plus a fine fielding display from the entire team which helped seal the result.

Belvoir were eventually bowled out for 128, handing Corowa their first win of the 2025–26 season.

Captain/Coach Ben Mitchell praised his side’s all-round effort and resilience after back-to-back losses to start the year.

The victory gives Corowa valuable momentum heading into next weekend’s fixture as they look to continue climbing the ladder.

Final scores:

Corowa — 145 (B. Fulford 78, B. Elliot 16*)

Belvoir — 128 (N. Grant 2/23, B. Elliot 2/17, J. Lavis 2/32, H. Starr 2/32, C. Langlands 1/13)

Corowa won by 17 runs.

B Grade

Belvoir 10/135 def by Corowa 7/195.

B Grade made it two wins in a row with a 60 run victory over Belvoir at Kelly Park.

Losing the toss, Corowa was asked to bat first with Jeremy Carr and Lenny Power opening the batting. These two looked comfortable adding 27 before Power went for 18 in the eighth over.

Blake Keenes only made one before he became the second victim to leave Corowa two for 39.

Carr was batting well and found support in Austin Ross-Anderson adding 42 before Ross-Anderson was dismissed for 18.

Zac Taylor-Nugent only added the boundary before he was out to leave Corowa four for 89 at the half way mark.

Leroy Chester made a well composed 13 adding 41 with Carr as he reached his half century. Carr was the sixth batsman dismissed for a very well made 79 which included 11 boundaries with the score at 162.

Tyler Abley with 23 not out, Daniel Athanitis (14) and Aaron Phibbs (10*) hit out at the end as Corowa finished their 45 overs at 7 for 195.

Belvoir started well quickly moving the score along to 37 after six overs.

Tyler Abley was brought on and totally changed the game. Abley collected four wickets in eight balls to turn the game Corowa’s way as Belvoir fell to for four for 50.

When Taylor-Nugent collected his first wicket Corowa was well on top with Belvoir five for 53. But with Belvoir opening bat Josh Freake still at the crease and seeing them like watermelons, Belvoir was still a chance.

When Abley collected his fifth wicket as Belvoir fell to six for 83 with Freake still at the crease on 60. Belvoir moved the score along to 134 and Freake to 97 before Abley great game continued taking a good catch on the boundary to dismiss Freake off Taylor-Nugent.

The last three wickets fell quickly as Belvoir was dismissed for 135 with Abley taking the last wicket to finished with six for 38. He was well supported by Taylor-Nugent with three for 36 while Daniel Athanitis took one for four off four overs.

This week sees the team back at Ball Park to take on Baranduda.

C Grade Div 1

Albury 10/75 def by Corowa 2/78.

Corowa C-Grade (Division 1) is one of three undefeated teams from two rounds after easily chasing down Albury’s 75 away on Saturday.

Openers Caleb Kuschert (32, three sixes) and Karvan Silva (23*, five boundaries) continued their dominant start to the season while recruit Mitch Ladd added a classy 18 as Corowa wrapped up the game in the first over after drinks.

Earlier, Kuschert got the visitors off to a good start in the field, bowling Albury’s opener for a duck before Danny Osborne removed the other via a Greg Burgess catch at slip.

Wickets fell regularly with Burgess (4/14) marching to eight wickets for the year with Silva (2/14) close behind on six.

A John Conroy one-hander at square leg and a Baxter Macfarlane stumping were the highlights in the field while Cody Kuschert and Blayre Smith also pouched chances.

The early finish meant an extended trip to the Newie Hotel where the boys were less fortunate battling the pokies but enjoyed some placings at Moonee Valley.

Back at South Corowa’s field-of-dreams this week to take on winless Raiders.

C Grade Div 2

Corowa 9/196 def Albury Umpires 5/190

C2 hosted the Albury Umpires at Morris Park for their opening fixture and with admission being free it promised to make it the cheapest entertainment in town.

Father and son duo Jason and Billy Raggett opened proceedings and they only took an over or so to have a look before the scoring started to flow.

Jase looking back to his old self before a good only fashion yes, no, maybe from his son and it was all over.

Billy didn’t seem to be too interested in making amends as he forgot to use his bat the very next ball and was out LBW.

With two new batsmen at the crease the game was poised, but it was Closter and Anic, old under 16’s partners reuniting after 20 years to steady the ship.

Both batsmen showing class and power, the slightly more attractive Closter even pulling the reverse slog sweep out of retirement.

Anic mistook a length ball on middle for an opportunity to attempt to hit a ball to Wahgunyah and middle stump went bang.

Young superstar Rhylee Barber coming out to bat with his hero Closter, the pair continuing the runs before Closter was left short on a risky single.

Tommy Moloney, Jono Perry and Jacko Barber adding some handy runs, club debutant Sam Sarah adding absolutely nothing. 195 was the target, a competitive total indeed.

The opening overs of the bowling innings were tight, Anic hanging onto a behind the stumps somehow and an LBW for the oppressive Playford brought Hohnberg and Taimni together and they started to score freely.

Closter picking up the dangerous Taimni with his first ball and at drinks the away side were looking shaky at 4/76.

By the completion of the 34th over the away side was stuck at 4/137 with the game all but over.

The home side allowed some of the (very) young fill in kids to get a taste of the action and the Albury Umpires were having none of it.

The next four overs went for 46 and all of a sudden it was on. Playford miscalculating and bowing the second last over thinking it was the last.

With only eight runs to defend and two set batsmen, C2 needed a hero, commeth the hour, commeth the man.

Steaming in from the Gee Hole end the imposing Closter hit the crease like a freight train.

After he created two opportunities that were dropped, he decided to take matters into his own hands quite literally with a ball skyed 40m in the air. He held onto a caught and bowled to ice the game in a man of the match performance.

Join next week as Div 2 take on North Albury away, and bring some whites in case the team are short.

Under 16s

Corowa 2/97 def Wodonga 7/96.

The Under 16s opened their season with an eight-wicket victory over Wodonga at Ball Park.

Bowling first Corowa got an early breakthrough via a run out by newcomer Kobe Ackroyd. Wodonga batted well moving the score along to 57 before Harry Norman got the breakthrough.

Good bowling by Jagger Doody (2/3), Rhylee Barber (1/3) and Jake Witherden (2/9) enabled the team to restrict Wodonga to 7 for 96 off their 20 overs.

In reply Corowa was never in trouble with Lenny Power and Austin Ross-Anderson in total control as these two added 85 for the first wicket before Power went for 31.

Ross Anderson retired on 53 with only four runs to go as Harry Norman (5*) and Abe Spencer (0*) saw Corowa to victory the 15th over.

The team take on Lavington this Friday in Lavington.

Under 14s Div 1

Corowa Black 6/157 def Albury 7/79

The Corowa Under 14s Division 1 side got their season off to a flying start with an impressive win over Albury in their first game.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Corowa’s openers set a solid platform.

Archie Rhodes was in fine form, retiring on 33*, while partner Jackson Barber added a valuable 20 runs to give the team momentum early. The strong start continued with Oli Matthews also retiring unbeaten on 30, keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

Cal Corcoran added a quick-fire 22, and Jagger Doody chipped in with a handy 12 as Corowa continued to rotate their batters and maximise the total.

By the end of their 20 overs, Corowa had compiled an impressive 157 runs.

With runs on the board, Corowa’s bowlers backed up the batting effort with a disciplined performance.

Cal Corcoran opened the bowling brilliantly, finishing with tight figures of 1/7. Jagger Doody led the wicket-taking, claiming two scalps, while Jake Rhodes and Abe Spencer each picked up a wicket as well.

The strong team effort in the field and with the ball kept Albury to just 79, sealing a dominant first-up victory for Corowa.

Under 14s Div 2

Howlong 7/72 def by Corowa 4/95.

Under 14s started the year away at Howlong and the boys started well with a convincing win. Howlong won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision that would backfire with Smasher Collins and Big George going after the attack early with multiple boundaries early.

George might have scored the runs with some beautiful backfoot cut shots through backward point but Collins was the pick of the batsmen showing composure before eventually falling to some good bowling.

Smith fell for 28 in the next over to a full toss which meant Pricey and Taity had to guide the team through to drinks and reset.

Poor old Taity’s eyes lit up to a big juicy one first ball after drinks and he wacked it straight down deep mid wickets throat. This brought first year under 14s gun to the crease, Closter.

Showing perfect technique, he expertly placed the ball through the field to rotate the strike to the more powerful price and the pair set up a competitive 95.

Pricey retiring himself on 27 showing excellent leadership to bring his teammates into the game.

The boys took to the field and bowled some tight lines to take the game away from Howlong without taking too many wickets.

Some catching practice needed as three or four tough chances went down but not much damage done. Franco Moolman and Billy Witherden bowling especially well for a combined four overs for only five runs.

Jack Welsh getting the first break through in the 12th over which would lead to a mini collapse, six wickets in the remaining eight overs, at one stage Man of the Match Pricey on a hat trick.

A strong start, looking forward to hosting Tallangatta next week for the first home game.

Under 12s Div 1

Corowa Black 4/108 def Baranduda 8/77.

Cricket is back. Corowa Black hosted Baranduda under 12s at the Corowa High School in round one of the under 12s division one season.

Baranduda winning the toss and sending Corowa in to bat. Jake Rhodes and Tyler Mullavey, future superstars of the Corowa Cricket Club opened the batting and made it very hard for the strong Baranduda bowling attack, putting on 37 for the opening partnership.

Baranduda got a couple quick wickets. Ollie Bedford and Zach Playford settled the ship, both retiring on 10 and 12 respectively.

Star of the show Bill Smith came in at number eight and smashed a brilliant unbeaten 26 off 20 balls including five fours.

Setting Baranduda a strong total of 108.

With the ball and in the field the boys were on from the very first ball. Jake Rhodes getting a caught and bowled in the second over.

Hugh Hicks and Ollie Bedford both took wickets in consecutive overs. The pick of the bowlers were the two young boys Tex Rhodes and Archie Hicks both taking a wicket each. They have set a high standard for the rest of the year holding five excellent catches.

Thank you to all the parents for helping out as well as Lindsy and Louise for scoring.

Under 12s Div 2 White

Baranduda 119 def Corowa White 86.

On Friday night the Corowa under 12s White travelled to Baranduda for their first hit out of the season.

After winning the toss captain Jack decided to bowl first. The team bowled really well with Jack, Albert and Archer all getting a wicket each.

With Baranduda making a very good score of 3/119 it was going to be a tough task to chase down the runs.

Everyone batted well with Mauritz top scored, followed by Jack with 11 then Johan and Benji on 7no each. Unfortunately, they fell short on 5/84.

It was a good start with most kids very young and not having played before.

Big thanks to Wes for scoring and let’s get ready for another crack against mates in the other Corowa under 12s side this Friday night.

Under 12s Div 2 Blue

Blue didn’t get a start after a New City forfeit.

Club News

The club would like to acknowledge sponsors for this season, A & A Auto, Davidson White Accountants, John Rhodes Bricklaying, Waldrons Fresh on River, Kilara Group, Rivalea, Terry White Chemist, O’Connors, Balldale Hotel, Federation Steel, Collins Transport, BJ Hanrahan Family Trust, Thrifty, Corowa Furnishing and Floors, Wiesners, VK Logic, Wodonga Pneumatics, Back on Track Physiotherapy, Corowa Curtain & Decor, Corowa Meats, TH Kitchens Joinery, KB Wilson Seeds & Corowa RSL Club.