THE Gisborne and District Cricket Association season 2025/26 has started and clubs across the district are keen for their teams to secure a place in the top four in the opening rounds of the Mcintyre Cup, Johnstone and the Jensen Shield competition.
In supreme weather conditions, the spectators came out for the much-anticipated opening rounds of the McIntyre Cup Firsts.
“It’s a long time between seasons,” they said.
At Woodend, its reigning premiers disappointed Broadford with their supreme bowling.
Thomas Robson bowled strongly for Woodend and Jacques Du Toit punished Broadford’s middle order. Woodend played their innings quickly, and secured first place on the ladder, 2/135 to 10/134.
In the highest scoring match of the day, at Romsey Reserve, Romsey bested Sunbury United thanks to Taylor Stevenson scoring the first century of the season with 111, the highest score for the round, 2/251 to 7/250.
Wallan travelled to play Macedon hoping to come home with the spoils in its first game back in McIntyre Cup, but they could not chase down the Cats opening innings of 7/186 and finished at 10/171.
Rupertswood and Gisborne played at Salesian College and the runs came thick and fast, delivering another high scoring innings with credit to Jarryd Vernon’s 107 runs, 4/220 to 4/222.
Woodend is on top of the ladder, followed by Romsey and Macedon, with Gisborne in fourth place.
Next week, Wallan plays Woodend at Greenhill Reserve in what will be a difficult task and Broadford hosts Rupertswood at Harley Hammond Reserve hoping to move off bottom position.
In the McIntyre Cup seconds competition, Rupertswood defeated Gisborne at Gardiner Reserve, 1/138 to 6/136, earning them pole position on the ladder.
Romsey and Sunbury met at Langama Park where Romsey’s Jack Rees nearly made a century on 95 not out. Romsey’s win, 2/195 to 7/194, puts them second on the ladder.
Wallan showed the Macedon Cats it was prepared to put in a strong showing, taking a 5/208 to 10/138 win.
Broadford hosted Woodend at Harley Hammond Reserve where they won the toss but elected to field first.
Woodend proved to be a force to be reckoned as Lachlan Sheahan was dangerous, making 81 runs before being bowled by James Hibbens.
Broadford took to the crease with 222 runs to chase.
Stuart Denness made the biggest mark with 40 runs and across the innings he shared a strong partnership with Harrison Wood who made 19.
Sheahan was dangerous again, taking 2/34, helping the visitors to secure fourth spot on the ladder, just above Broadford, 8/222 to 9/138.
Next week, local clubs Broadford and Wallan will travel to play Rupertswood and Woodend respectively in what will be another exciting game of cricket.
The Johnstone Shield is an eight-team competition including new comers, Lancefield, and Eastern Hill (Seymour) for the season.
The highest scoring match of the opening round was between Harkness and Diggers Rest at Arnolds Creek and finishing with Diggers Rest sitting pretty at the top of the ladder, 7/221 to 10/87.
Eynesbury and Sunbury Kangaroos battled it out at
Eynesbury and finished with Sunbury victorious and second on the ladder, 4/114 to 10/113.
Newcomers, Lancefield and Eastern Hill met at Lancefield Park. The Tigers had a tricky assignment playing Eastern Hill fresh off a grand final defeat.
Partly thanks to Tim Rudd-Schmidt taking three wickets, it finished with Eastern Hill proudly sitting pretty in third position 7/189 to 9/112.
East Sunbury hosted Kilmore at the John McMahon Reserve in Sunbury and chose to bat first. Captain Dale Tassone led the way to victory for Kilmore, 61 runs, and fourth position on the ladder, 6/158 to 9/156.
Next week, the top two teams play each other, Eastern Hill hosts Harkness and Kilmore hosts Eynesbury.
In the Johnstone Shield seconds, Harkness were too strong for Diggers Rest in a low scoring game where Diggers Rest won the toss and batted first, 1/41 to 10/38. The victory sees Harkness on top of the ladder.
In the round’s highest scoring game runs, Lancefield hosted Eastern Hill at Lancefield Park.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the visiting Peter Speechley caused major damage with 148 runs. Hayden Szcykulski finished on 74 runs not out before the Tigers walked onto the crease chasing 367.
Oliver Fulton took four wickets to help Eastern Hill to victory, 7/367 to 10/126 and to sit in second position on the ladder.
Kilmore hosted East Sunbury and won the toss electing to bat first. Riley Callaghan contributed 34 runs and Harrison Purcell 26, but it wasn’t enough to claim victory as East Sunbury chased the target down with ease. The result sees East Sunbury on the third rung of the ladder, 4/131 to 9/129.