2025-26 Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League round 6: Sportsmans to face CVN as unpredictable season heats up

The 2025-26 Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League season is shaping up as the best in years, with no predictable results. Sportsmans lead with 18 points from four games, followed by Wanderers on 15 (five games), Chapman Valley-Northampton on 15 (six games), Bluff Point on 12 (five games), and defending premiers Towns on 12 (four games). Sportsmans aim for another win on Saturday in a 50-over clash against CVN at Wonthella. A key to their success has been Clint Yeates, who will next month turn 40, but remains a game changer. He has had two 50s in three innings and eight wickets from three bowling stints. “We’ve played well since that tight loss to Wanderers (by three runs) which is pleasing,” Sportsmans captain Riley Barham said. “Yeatesy has played two very different innings, one when we were 3-15 to recover us, and another going in late and scoring quickly — he looks as good as ever.” Also impressive is young paceman Zak Williamson, coming off a career-best 6-24, while veteran spinner Dan Welsh is nearing 400 career A-grade wickets. Another plus is gifted all-rounder Ben O’Brien (3249 runs and 218 wickets) waits in the wings. “It was nice to see Zak rewarded with his first five-for last week,” Barham said. “Ben will play a few more before Christmas but busy with work at the minute, and Welshy is committed to us for the year.” CVN, as always at this time of year, are bedevilled by the loss of players to harvest, but with batters such as Nigel Routledge, Matt Albanis and Adam Goacher and developing bowling, have every chance. Wanderers and Towns meet twice this weekend, at Wonthella in the Young Motors T20 Cup on Friday night, and in a 50-over game at GBSC Park on Saturday. For Wanderers, the good news is Doug Hogue Medal winner Zane Marwick is expected to play, and paceman Ian Oglesby may line up. With Kade Gillingham in grand form and hopefully Shayne Bidwell available, they look solid, and young Colin Culloton, Austyn Moulds and Ashlyn Thompson have shone. Towns are missing significant players but remain mostly competitive. Sam Crouch has done a superb job working with what he has. One to watch is spinner Tom Witt. Unafraid to throw the ball up, he could have an impact. In Sunday’s Women’s Young Motors T20 League, Wanderers play Towns at GBSC Par,k while Sporties line-up against CVN at Wonthella. B-grade: BP v Kalbarri at Muir; Towns v Sports at Rec; CVN v Dongara at Mazzuchelli.