This Season
2026
Match Report Sat 2 May: 2nd XI vs Woodbank CC (Home)
Tue 5 May 2026
After starting the season with two wins from two, the 2s took to the field on Saturday to try and make it a perfect three from three.That’s a lot of 2, to and twos!
Woodbank arrived at Manchester Road and opted to have a bat, following a successful flip of the coin that landed on yet another superb Drew Hogben prepared deck. Young Oscar struggled to find his rhythm in the early exchanges, and Woodbank were off to a flyer at 36/0 from the first 5.
Lewis Keogh replaced Oscar up the hill, shortly after Tom had cleaned up their opener at the other end. Lewis also struggled to find his line, with too many wides to build pressure and the visitors scoreboard kept ticking over. Tom took another two scalps in his next two overs to leave Woodbank on 54/3 after 10 and bringing Clifton back into the game, Tom finishing with 3-34 from his 11 overs.
Keogh shortly made it 68/4 uprooting the middle stump, before Dan Jones and Elliot Hogben came on to turn the screw. Dan took a wicket in his first over and finished with economical figures of 1-11 from his 7 over spell. A 70 run partnership was broken by a caught and bowled from Owen, who then wrapped up the tail to finish with impressive figures of 4-14 from his 6 overs at the death.
The story of the bowling however was the 48 extras given away (31 of them wides), which gave the Clifton batsmen a fair bit of catching up to do before a ball was hit in anger.
The chase didn’t get off to the best of starts when stand-in opener Sam Winstanley was bowled for 4, but a partnership of 93 then followed between youngsters Ethan Kite (36) and Dan Jones (77) to put Clifton in the driving seat. The game was then sealed with what is becoming a regular middle order contribution from Owen (19*) and Lewis (20), and Oscar Thorpe finished it off with 12 from 8, but not before smashing one back down the ground that ended as a nasty one into bowler Olivia Kay's face. Thankfully she was up and ok after not too long and was looked after by the Clifton Nightingales in Megan and Karen. Gladly she was still able to laugh off the quip that it was technically a dropped catch !
So another 6 points for the 2s which leaves them top of the table, an impressive start given the number of regulars missing (5 in total) from the previous Saturday’s line-up. Much tighter lines will be required from the bowlers however, if this unbeaten start is to continue. The batting depth will be tested properly at some point otherwise.
Match Report Sun 3 May: 2nd XI vs Milnrow CC 2nd XI - Premier Cup (Round One) (Home)
Tue 5 May 2026
The seconds' idea of excitement was somewhat different to that used to describe the firsts' cup exploits, as they cruised to a second round tie with the good citizens of Roe Green.
After a steady start in which the openers accumulated 33 in ten overs, a nagging bowling attack ground down the Milnrow batting order, taking wickets at increasingly regular intervals and reducing the side from Division 5 East, that had lost its first game a day earlier, to 108 all out.
Sam Winstanley took the main chunk of the plaudits with his spell up th'ill earning him 5-34, but all the bowlers performed well including Lewis Keogh who remained wicketless despite bowling his seven overs for just 11 runs. Despite being far from perfect in the field, this was a statement performance from the team which had been deprived of three key players immediately prior to the game starting.
The reply started in steady fashion with Big Mac and Ethan Kite going shot for shot in the early stages. Ethan's ability to drive the ball straight to fielders persists however and it was noticeable, as the skipper pulled away, how his shots were going between fielders, rather than warming their hands. Two boundaries in successive balls brought up the fifty in the 10th over and seventy was achieved in the 15th with a four and a six as the skipper approached a half century. It was then that he unleashed a veritable StevieMacflurry of seven boundaries in 10 balls that yielded 32 runs to finish the game and bring his individual score to an impressive 80no with Ethan left gazing in wonder, stuck on 19no at the other end.
So, a ten wicket win inside 18 overs complimented the first's victory and saw both sides into round two for the second successive season.
Match Report Sun 3 May: 1st XI vs Monton CC - Derek Kay Cup (Round One) (Away)
Tue 5 May 2026
A proper cup tie in every sense. Tight, tense, and dominated by the ball. In a game where runs were hard-earned throughout, it was Clifton who held their nerve to edge home by two wickets, with a match-winning innings from Caleb Donaldson proving the difference.
Monton’s innings never quite found fluency against a disciplined Clifton attack. Early pressure told immediately, with Oliver Sleight striking twice to reduce the hosts to 14–2. From there, wickets fell at regular intervals as Clifton kept things tight and asked constant questions.
Jordan Stephens provided the only real resistance at the top of the order with a composed 24, while Jake Sandham (15) and Joshua Lenihan (18) attempted to rebuild through the middle. However, partnerships were repeatedly broken just as they began to develop.
Clifton’s bowling unit shared the workload effectively. Ali Hassan was the standout, claiming 3 for 17 and consistently threatening through the middle overs, well supported by Ben Hamilton and Praharsh Parikh, who both picked up two wickets apiece. Tight spells and disciplined lines restricted Monton to 110 all out in 37.4 overs.
The chase, however, proved anything but straightforward.
Clifton stumbled early under a similarly probing Monton attack. Will McAvoy (3 for 38) and Jamie Cotton (2 for 18) led the charge as wickets tumbled, leaving Clifton in trouble at 20–4. Batting was clearly not easy, and every run had to be worked for.
Amid the chaos, Caleb Donaldson produced an innings of real control and maturity. His unbeaten 29 from 92 balls will not grab headlines for its strike rate, but in the context of the game, it was invaluable. Showing patience, discipline, and a clear understanding of the situation, he anchored the innings while others came and went.
Jordy Higham’s 22 provided important support during a key phase, and a late contribution from Oliver Sleight (16) nudged Clifton closer. Even then, the game remained in the balance as Monton continued to chip away with wickets.
Ultimately, Donaldson guided Clifton home, finishing unbeaten alongside Owen Hogben, as the visitors reached 112–8 in 40.2 overs.
Match Report Sat 2 May: 1st XI vs Woodbank CC (Away)
Tue 5 May 2026
Match Report Sun 26 April: 1st XI vs Formby CC - ECB KO (Round One) (Away)
Tue 28 Apr 2026
The firsts bowed out of the National Knockout with the negatives just outweighing the positives in a decent contest on the coast at Formby.
After losing Jack Stanley early doors, Zach, Caleb and Sam raced along to 87-2 in just 13 overs before Caleb mistimed a pull shot and was caught. Sam continued Saturday's form, playing shots all around the wicket in a partnership of 58 with Ben Hamilton but when both were out within the space of two overs, there was 145 on the board with 13 overs still to go.
Instead of rebuilding, the middle order then tried to smash every ball into the sea and it just wasn't going to happen with the next three wickets falling for eleven. This meant that Ollie, Fin and debutant Owen, could not play freely and had to take their ones and twos to use up the overs, when that is precisely what those middle order batsman should have been doing. As it transpired, they did that job extremely well, batting with maturity and managing to take the game to the last over whilst adding 37 valuable runs.
The final total of 193 was lightweight however, when a more disciplined approach could and should have set a target in excess of 220.
Formby's reply started with their openers struggling a bit and playing and missing on a regular basis. As they began to look more assured, an umpiring decision and a farcical dropped catch took the game away and despite a great spell of 1-22 off Ben Hamilton's eight over spell, the batsmen gradually took charge and eased their way to land Sam's men with a second seven wicket defeat within the space of two days.
Once again, there were positives in the performance, but there was also some poor cricket on display which needs to be ironed out before the season slips away.
Match Report Sun 26 April: 3rd XI vs Greenfield CC (Home)
Tue 28 Apr 2026
Winstanley, Thorpe and Hogben helped to mop up the tail, ably assisted by some excellent wicket keeping from Chris Thorpe. Bowling Greenfield out for a megre 83 on a good batting surface.
Match Report Sat 25 April: 2nd XI vs Horwich RMI CC (Away)
Tue 28 Apr 2026
The camping chairs and cool boxes were brought back down out of the loft on Saturday morning - the flasks were left for another day - as the travelling support made their preparations for a trip up to Horwich under clear blue skies, in the hope of seeing Maca’s men make it 2 from 2 to start the season.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, the Horwich openers survived a testing opening spell from Tom and Oscar who both managed to get the ball to move around but without reward.The introduction of Dan Jones from the Rivington Pike End (well that’s what you can see over that side anyway) came with a hat-trick opportunity, having taken 2 wickets with his last 2 balls to clean up the tail last Sunday. Maybe if Jordy knew it was hat-trick ball he wouldn’t have put down a regulation chance at second slip.
A few overs later the breakthrough was made, when Dan drew an edge and Owen took a one handed screamer high to his right at slip. That was a rare moment of brilliance in the field in a day of too many dropped catches and below par ground fielding. Something this side really needs to improve onto put together back to back promotions.
New signing Sas joined the attack from the “Ice Cream Van End” and impressed from ball one with his pace and control. He removed the opener just short of his 50 then the number 3 to leave Horwich 115/3. Dan picked up another with a catch at point from Tom, before a sharp piece of fielding out on the boundary from Owen to run out his college mate, Jack Murray. Jordy returned from Australia as a newly formed off spinner, bowling nicely to finish with 1-48 from his 12 over spell, leaving Clifton a target of 197 to take the points back to Manchester Road.
To say the Horwich opening bowlers were a little loose would be a tad polite. Three head height no balls bowled from the Rivington Pike End mixed in with a flurry of wides, helped the chase get off to a helpful start.
Steve and Sam both helped themselves to 12 runs apiece before falling, then a 62 run partnership from Dan and Jordy put Clifton in control of the chase. When Dan (38) departed, Owen came to the crease to hold up an end while Jordy pushed on and played with a little more freedom before falling for a well made 68. With 20 left to win the match, Oscar (4) Lewis (10) and Sas (7) got it over the line with 8 balls to spare.
Horwich looked like a strong side, especially with the bat, but they were let down by their opening bowlers which cost them the game. 12 wides and 3 no balls from the opener's 4 overs (which was 3 overs too many if I was captain) followed by 9 wides and 4 no balls from the first change bowler gave the Clifton target a very helpful boost.
Compare that to just 6 wides and zero no balls from Clifton’s bowling attack and there is the difference. The leg side wides rule for this season will have a pivotal role to play in who is promoted from this league come September.
Match Report Sat 25 April: 1st XI vs Horwich RMI CC (Home)
Tue 28 Apr 2026
The firsts went down to a seven wicket defeat against a strong looking Horwich side on Saturday who proved their mettle the following day by trouncing Liverpool in the National Knockout.
Despite passing two hundred in only the second game of the season, it never really looked enough as the unseasonably hot April weather, along with Drew's expertise, had produced an excellent batting surface and a fast outfield. There was a welcome first half century for Caleb Donaldson and a positive run-a-ball 62 from skipper Sam in a total of 218-5 that was actually below par for the conditions as the strike rate faltered in a middle overs bloc that produced only 70 runs in 24 overs, strangled to a degree by some tight bowling that never allowed the batsmen to dominate.
Former Cliftoner Joe Brown perished early doors in the Horwich response, but that was all-she-wrote as far as bowling and fielding domination went as the Horwich batting line up eased comfortably to victory by seven wickets with three overs to spare.
It's been a tough opening for Sam's lads, with two of the best looking outfits on the fixture list in the first two games, but there were positives to report from both games with, hopefully, some easier contests on the horizon in the coming weeks.
The three pronged spin attack looks as though it could create problems in the right conditions and Gareth Cross will always take wickets. Ollie and Fin have only one wicket to their names so far, but that will quickly change as they get into their stride. With Caleb seemingly adapting to the conditions well and Sam looking in good nick with the bat, when the side clicks, they will be a match for anyone in the division on the day.
Match Report Sun 19 April: 3rd XI vs Denton West CC (Home)
Tue 21 Apr 2026
It was a tale of two drinks breaks at Clifton on Sunday asthe 3rds opened their campaign against Denton West. Batting first, the Westopeners survived a couple of scares before dominating the bowling to the tuneof 83-0 at drinks, moving the score to exactly 100 before Sam Winstanleyfinally broke through.
There followed the most remarkable collapse as Sam followedup with wickets in all his next three overs before Owen Hogben joined in thecarnage with a couple falling in one over. Sam finished with a creditable 4-15off his eight overs, whilst Owen's eight cost 31 for his three wickets as tenwickets fell for 34 runs with no batsman apart from the openers managing doublefigures.
The Clifton reply was a stuttering affair to say the leastwith the early batsmen seeming to think that they had to play shots off everydelivery as if they were on a July shirt front rather than an April greentop.Their reward for their inauspicity was a scoreboard which read 16-4 before Owenand Ollie Dunn started to graft their way to a match winning partnership of 70that oozed maturity and patience.
It took a dodgy lbw to separate them with Ollie fallingdubiously for an excellent 38 off 63 balls. Owen kept his head and with LewisKeogh struggling to find the middle of the bat, they chipped away at the run aball target. Suddenly, Lewis found the sweet spot and launched fourteen runsoff three balls to end any hopes of the visitors providing a close finish.
Owen went on to complete an extremely mature 59 not out,finishing with a mighty six over the machine shed with a full fourteen balls togo, securing what looked early on, to be an improbable five wicket victory.
Match Report Sat 18 April: 2nd XI vs Darcy Lever CC (Home)
Tue 21 Apr 2026
Darcy Lever won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitchthat looked in excellent condition, especially after the dreadful wet winterwe’ve endured.
Clifton’s opening bowlers, Worthington and Thorpe, started alittle loose but quickly found their rhythm and lines. They claimed a couple ofearly wickets and set the tone for what became a very disciplined teamperformance in the field. The other bowlers used in Jones, Keogh, Dorseyand Dunn, all took wickets as well, contributing to an excellent all roundbowling display.
Darcy Lever scored at a steady rate of around four an overbut were never able to accelerate. Clifton chipped away with regular wicketsthroughout the innings.
The standout for the visitors was Toseef Khan, who played avery competent innings of 95. Had he been dismissed early, things could havebecome very difficult for Darcy Lever.
In reply, Clifton chased the target down quite comfortably,though there was some early season rustiness with the bat.
Skipper Steve McManus opened the batting and made a solid 40before chasing a wide one, while the middle order showed a couple of poor shotselections. Owen Hogben and Lewis Keogh then saw us home, both finishingunbeaten on 22.
Whilst it was a good all-round team performance to securethe first victory of the season, there is still room for improvement in thefield. Clifton dropped three chances and I’m sure we will look to tighten up onthis in coming weeks.
A strong start to the campaign nonetheless, well playedlads!
Match Report Sat 18 April: 1st XI vs Roe Green CC (Away)
Tue 21 Apr 2026
The 1st XI 2026 season got underway at Roe Greenon Saturday, and if this opening fixture is anything to go by, it promises tobe a campaign full of drama, quality, and just the occasional talking point.
Clifton travelled with a strong-looking side, boosted by thereturn of Gareth Cross, who wasted no time reminding everyone of his all-roundvalue. With the ball, Cross was outstanding, finishing with 5-53 from his 15overs and consistently asking questions of the Roe Green batting line-up.Supported well by Oliver Sleight (1-33) and Ben Hamilton (3-35), Clifton keptthings tight for large parts of the innings.
Roe Green’s innings never truly broke free and Clifton hadworked themselves into a strong position, reducing the hosts to 114-8 andappearing firmly in control.
It was at this point, though, that the game began to shift. TobyLester added a late flourish with an aggressive 38 from just 33 balls, combinedwith a few costly overs towards the back end, allowed Roe Green to push on to156 all out. A total that felt slightly above par given the position they hadfound themselves in earlier in the innings.
Unfortunately, Clifton’s reply got off to the worst possiblestart. Two wickets fell without a run on the board, and a few raised eyebrows withthe LBW decisions adding to the usual early-season debate and when the scoreslipped to 9-4, the visitors were left with a mountain to climb.
Once again, Gareth Cross led from the front, producing afighting 34, while Joe McCann offered solid support with a well-crafted 25. Thepair helped steady the innings and gave Clifton a foothold in the game, butjust as momentum began to build, Roe Green struck back.
Andy Hough proved particularly effective for the hosts,claiming 3-21, while Luke Williams (3-28) and Toby Lester (2-17) ensured thatClifton were never able to fully recover from their early setbacks.
In the end, Clifton were bowled out for 107, falling shortby 49 runs.
While the result didn’t go Clifton’s way, there were plentyof positives to take from the performance. The return of Cross, contributionsfrom McCann, and long spells of controlled bowling all point to a side shapingup well for the season ahead.
With a few lessons learned, particularly around capitalisingon key moments and tightening things up at the death, Clifton will look tobounce back quickly as the 2026 season quickly gathers pace.
Pool Tournament 2026
Sun 12 Apr 2026
The 2026 Pool Tournament is now all wrapped up, and what a brilliant competition it has been from start to finish.
Our main pool event, which gets underway each October, has once again proven to be a superb way of keeping us all entertained (and sane!) through the winter months when there’s no cricket on. It’s become a real highlight in the club calendar and something many look forward to each year.
This year we introduced a Plate competition, giving those who didn’t quite make the later stages of the Cup another chance to get involved, and it certainly delivered.
Dora Littler and Tom Wild faced off in the final, and it turned into a fantastic contest. Played as a first to 5 (best of 9), the match went right down to the wire. At 4 – 4, it really could have gone either way, with both players handling the pressure superbly. In the end, Tom edged a tense final frame to take the win 5 – 4, but both players deserve huge credit for such an entertaining match.
In the main Cup Competition, reigning two-time champion Nick Flaxman met Craig Golland, who was appearing in his first final. It was great to see Craig reach this stage and test himself against a very strong opponent. Nick started confidently and set the tone early, and although Craig battled well to take a frame, Nick’s experience showed as he went on to secure the title with an 8–1 victory, making him a three-time champion.
A big well done to all players who took part this year. The standard, sportsmanship, and support throughout the tournament have been excellent, and it’s great to see so many people getting involved and enjoying the competition.
A special thank you must also go to Shane Whitehead for organising the tournament. These events don’t just happen, and a lot of time, effort, and patience goes in behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly. It’s hugely appreciated by everyone involved.
Easter Raffle
Sat 11 Apr 2026
Stanley Breidenbach
Dave Wild
Anntonia Pimlottt
June Eckersley
Easter Weekend
Wed 1 Apr 2026
The long weekend is here… and wehave got something for everyone 🌼
We are open right through theweekend, so whether it’s a family drink in the sunshine, catching up withfriends, or just getting out of the house, you are always welcome
🕐 OpeningTimes
Good Friday – from 1pm
Saturday – from 1pm
Easter Sunday – from midday
Easter Monday – from midday
🌸 EASTERSUNDAY – CHILDREN’S EASTER PARTY 🌸
🗓 Sunday 5thApril
⏰ 1pm – 4pm
Fun, games, egg hunt and a visitfrom the Easter Bunny 🐰
Just £2 per child
🎟 Ticketsavailable behind the bar
Bring the kids, bring the family,and enjoy a proper afternoon at our club
Everyone welcome 💛
Oz Watch - Week Twenty-Three
Sun 22 Mar 2026
OZ WATCH - The Final Credits
When we said farewell to Jordan Higham as he left for hisAntipodean Adventure, little did we know that he would be returning as a GrandFinal Winner as his Churchill side walloped Morwell on their own patch in Saturdayand Sunday's two day final. After finishing 4th and dispatching top of thetable Ex-Students in last week's semi, with match winning performances fromboth Jordy and Ryan, the Clifton Super Poms repeated the trick against Morwellwho finished 2nd in the regular season with opening batter Jordy holding theinnings together when batters 2,3 and 4 managed 4,4 and 7 respectively. Thatbrought Ryan to the crease and, after Jordy was out having scored 40 out of the62 runs on the scoreboard, skipper Ayres saw his side to victory with a patient56 not out scored off 154 balls. Earlier, he had ripped the home side's battingapart with 6-41 off 21 overs as the two day game moved into its second day.Second innings weren't required for either side as, when time ran out,Churchill were 49 runs ahead on first innings and declared winners afterposting 162-7 in 71 overs is response to their opponents 113 all out.
So, it's back to Blighty and the delights of Roe Green andDarcy Lever in four short weeks’ time for our returning heroes. Thanks toJordy, Zach, Sam Caleb and Finlay for keeping us entertained over the wintermonths. Hoping all have (or had) safe journeys to the UK and their travelarrangements aren't affected by events elsewhere.
Scorecard:
Jordy & Ryan - Here
Caleb - Here
Oz Watch - Week Twenty-Two
Sun 15 Mar 2026
Interesting Fact: Australia has over one millionwild (feral) camels and exports large numbers to Saudi Arabia.
Churchill's Super-Poms Jordy Higham and Ryan Ayres almostsingle handedly dismantled table toppers Ex-Students in the Latrobe ValleyGrand Finals semi final, to set up a Grand Final with Morwell CC next week.Churchill's 170-7 included 93 not out from Ryan and 35 from Jordan with onlyone other player managing double figures. Jordy hit three boundaries and Ryanan impressive fourteen. The ex-Students innings totally disintegrated in theface of Churchill's bowlers with Ryan taking 5-10 in 15.1 overs as the homeside were routed for just 41, handing them only their third defeat of theseason after beating Churchill home and away in the regular season.
Scorecards:
Jordy & Ryan - Here
Oz Watch - Week Twenty-One
Sat 7 Mar 2026
Interesting fact: Having previously astounded the whole continent by walking South to North across Australia in 1920, Aidan De Brune used that walk as a mere warm up for his real objective. In 1921 he set off from Sydney to walk the entire perimeter of the continent. Two and a half years and ten thousand miles later, he arrived back in Sydney from the opposite direction that he had embarked.
The great antipodean adventure is over for Sam and Zach, whose sides failed to manage a top four finish that would have secured a spot in the end of season Grand Finals. Both lads fly home at the end of the month after, no doubt, sampling a little more neck oil before completing their escapade.
Zach's league season ended with a dull thud and a 5th out of eight placed finish with a narrow 214 run defeat following their 74 all out in 43 overs that must have put the spectators into a deep sleep. Zach hit one of only four fours in the entire innings, but that was all she wrote as his season ended in nine balls as Tooradin's 288 disappeared over the horizon.
Churchill's win left them in fourth place and a Grand Final Semi-Final spot against the 1st placed club, after a six wicket win at Morwell. Jordy opened the batting in pursuit of a 114 total in which Jordy didn't bowl but Ryan took 2-16 from ten overs. Jordy's 29 provided the platform for the win after batsmen 2 and 3 failed, allowing Ryan's 42 to finish the job.
Sam's 20 with the bat proved crucial in a low scoring game at Chisholm CC. Having posted just 97, Northern Suburbs bowled out the hosts for 87 to secure an unlikely ten run win. Sam wasn't called upon to bowl but compensated by completing three catches in the final game of the season which left his side in a disappointing fifth place after challenging at the top for most of the season.
In New Zealand, Caleb's three ball duck contributed to his side facing an uphill task on day two of their two day game after closing on 186-5 in pursuit of Elmwood's 305-8 in 60 overs. Fin did not make an appearance this week for reasons unknown.
Scorecards:
Zach – Here
Sam – Here
Jordy & Ryan – Here
Caleb – Here
Get Set Weekend 2026
Mon 2 Mar 2026
Get Set Weekend is nearly here and we are calling on the heartbeat of our club… our incredible volunteers!
Join us Friday 27th, Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th March from 10:00am each day as we prepare the ground and facilities for the 2026 season. Whether you can spare an hour or stay for the day, every helping hand makes a real difference. There will be plenty of jobs, plenty of laughs, and plenty of pride in seeing what we achieve together.
This is teamwork off the pitch at its finest and we truly do have the best people. Let’s get our club looking match-ready! 🏏
Oz Watch - Week Twenty
Sat 28 Feb 2026
Interesting Fact: Australia is home to the world's longest golf course. The Nullarbor Links spans a whopping 848 miles from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia to Ceduna in South Australia. The course consists of 18 holes, with each one located in a different town along the 1000+mile long Eyre Highway.
With Churchill having a day off on Saturday, Zach's Pakenham CC embarked on a two day game that will conclude next week and, after winning the toss, found themselves chasing leather as visitors Tooradin piled up 288 all out in just over 78 overs, Zach weighed in with a couple of catches, including the unfortunate Praveen Perera just two short of a century. In the first meeting in October, Tooradin had amassed 276 runs which proved to be 57 too many for Pakenham, so they will be hoping for better luck next week.
Sam's title ambitions took a tumble as Northern Suburbs went down narrowly to neighbours Eastern Suburbs who leapfrogged them in the table, the eight run victory being revenge for their defeat back in December. Sam bowled eight wicketless overs for 41, took a catch and scored just two runs on a day to forget in his side's penultimate match of the season.
As anticipated, the two day game in New Zealand between Caleb Donaldson's Heathcote CC and Finlay's Riccarton, ended in yet another defeat for Fin's unfortunate bottom placed club. Riccarton added to their 1st inning total of 121 with 147 in the second with Fin stumped for just 5 runs. Heathcote knocked off the required 64 runs for the loss of three wickets with Caleb top scoring with 25 to follow up his 84 in last week's first innings, hopefully warming up nicely for his Clifton debut at Roe Green in seven short weeks. Fin was wicketless, conceding 17 runs in his four over spell. That leaves Riccarton with just one win all season and two games to go to make some amends.
Scorecards:
Zach – Here
Sam – Here
Caleb – Here
Fin – Here
Oz Watch - Week Nineteen
Sat 21 Feb 2026
Interesting fact: The Anna Creek cattlefarm in South Australia is larger than the country of Israel.
Zach's low scoring two day game concluded with both sides batting twice and Pakenham going down to a seven-wicket defeat. Continuing at 24-1 after being bowled out for 80 last week, they fared slightly better in mustering 103, but Cardinia had little trouble knocking off the 60 needed after posting 126 last week. Zach's batting duties were over and done with last week so he was restricted to keeping for the 11 overs that the hosts needed to complete the win.
Jordy and Ryan suffered defeat as well as they were a longway off matching the ex-students' 286-8 posted last week. In the end they fell127 runs short with Jordy only managing five runs, though Ryan chipped in with57.
Sam's Northern Suburbs completed their two-day win over leaders Tenambit-Morpeth, following up their 295 all out last week by bowling out their hosts for 190. Sam didn't bowl on the day, but got valuable experience of the two-day format as his 2nd grade side continue to challenge for the title.
In Canterbury down in New Zealand, the two day head-to-head between Fin and Caleb appears to be going Caleb's way as he scored 84 in 110balls with ten fours and a six in a total of 205-8 in reply to Riccarton's 121in which Fin scored 12 not out. Fin took 1-56 in Heathcote's innings and his side finished on 23-1 in their second innings, still 61 runs behind.
Scorecards:
Zach – Here
Sam – Here
Jordy & Ryan – Here
Caleb – Here
Fin - Here
Coffee Morning
Sun 15 Feb 2026
☕ Clifton Cricket Club Coffee Morning ☕
Everyone Welcome!
Join us every Thursday from 10:00am – 12:30pm at Clifton Cricket Club for our friendly community coffee morning.
This is a relaxed, welcoming space for local residents of all ages to pop in, have a chat, meet new people, and enjoy a cuppa in great company.
✨ What’s on offer?
☕ First tea or coffee FREE
🤝A warm, friendly atmosphere
🏏A chance to enjoy your local cricket club
🎁 Loyalty card available – after 3 visits, your next coffee is FREE!
Whether you stay for five minutes or the whole morning, you’ll always be made to feel welcome.
📍 Clifton Cricket Club
📅 Every Thursday
⏰ 10:00am – 12:30pm
Come along, bring a friend, and make Clifton CC part ofyour week.
Oz Watch - Week Eighteen
Sun 15 Feb 2026
Interesting fact: Over 80% of the continent's plants, mammals, reptiles, and frogs can only be found in Australia.
Zach's Pakenham CC and Jordan's Churchill CC embarked on two-day games at the weekend that will conclude next Saturday, and both set themselves a stiff challenge to stay in the game. Pakenham have the greatest mountain to climb as they will resume at 28-1 in their second innings having been bowled out for just 80 in 34 tortuous overs with four batsmen, sadly including Zach, registering ducks. Cardinia Bulls, sitting 2nd in the table, then reached 126-2before declaring and asking Pakenham to bat again. They reached a steady 28-1at the close with Zach suffering an unlikely two dismissals on the same day.
Churchill's dilemma was somewhat different as they spent all day in the field chasing leather as the Ex-Students team piled up 286. Neither Jordy or Ryan were put to the sword as both returned decent figures in the circumstances with Ryan bowling eight wicketless overs for just thirteen runs and Jordy picking up the wicket of the Students’ centurion for 134 in stats of1-36 off 11 overs. Neither of the two lads went to the crease as their teammates then crumbled to 5-2 in reply.
Sam continued his valuable experience in North West Suburbs2nd grade team, and his first outing in a two-day game. He contributed a decent 13 runs to a stunning 295 all out against top of the table Tenambit Morpeth Cricket Club, which means that the 'Burbs, who sit in 2nd spot, have the title in their sights in what should be a thriller next week.
Over in Kiwiland, Caleb and Finlay continue to battle away in the Christchurch Metro Cricket Association with Caleb's Heathcote in 5th and Finlay's Riccarton sadly still rock bottom and needing snookers to overcome a 27-pointgap with the side above them. It was a familiar tale for Fin as they went down to a 148-run defeat after their visitors piled up 302-7 with the Cliftoner taking 1-47. He then contributed 14 to his sides 154 all out. Heathcote's 188-9wasn't enough to deter opponents Sydenham who secured a four wicket win inside37 overs. Caleb opened the batting scoring 18 including two boundaries. There are just three weeks left of the regular season and Finlay and Caleb go head-to-head next week. In an earlier T20 game, unsurprisingly going the way of Heathcote, Caleb scored 49 in 41 balls and Fin took 1-43 and scored three with the bat, whereas in the first league game, Caleb scored six and Fin took 1-32 as Riccarton went down by 56 runs.
Scorecards:
Zach – Here
Sam – Here
Jordy & Ryan – Here
Fin – Here
Caleb – Here
Oz Watch - Week Seventeen
Sun 8 Feb 2026
Interesting Fact: For all you fellow trainspotters out there, The Nullarbor Plain section of the Indian Pacific Railway between Sydney and Perth, has the world's longest completely straight length of railway track, covering approximately 297 miles without the slightest hint of a curve.
It was another inauspicious day for the Oz and Kiwi Poms at the weekend. We left Pakenham and Churchill in the middle of two-day games last week, with Pakenham posting 129 and Devon Meadows on 24-1 and Churchill chasing Moe CC's 234-6. Pakenham made a fight of their poor total but finally succumbed with the visitors bowled out for 136 with Zach picking up 2 catches behind the stumps and no time left in the game for a second innings. Churchill recovered from 53-5 to overcome their opponents final total of 247 in a thrilling one wicket victory, but Jordy managed just four with the bat and was wicketless. Ryan Ayers fared slightly better with six runs and two wickets contribution to an excellent win. Sam found himself promoted to Northern Suburbs 2nd grade XI and had to be satisfied with a red ink 1no off his one ball faced, batting at 9 in an imposing 'Burbs total of 264-7 that was 84 too many for their opponents.Sam got the chance to turn his arm over and took 1-23 as the second-string cemented 2nd spot in the table.
Down the road in New Zealand, things weren't any better for new recruit Caleb Donaldson who managed just three in Heathcote CC's 66-run defeat. Similarly, once again, Riccarton CC went down to a heavy defeat, cementing bottom spot in the table. Fin scored nine with the bat but didn't capture any wickets, but all Clifton eyes will be focused on the match taking place on February 20th when Caleb and Finlay face off head-to-head in a two-day game.
200 miles or so to the south of Riccarton, lies Carisbrook CC where Clifton's 1900 professional Harold Watson played, having emigrated to New Zealand in the days when such things were virtually unheard of. He made a life for himself out there and even has his own Wiki page - HaroldWatson (New Zealand Cricketer)
Meanwhile, Zach was selected to play in the Melbourne area's prestigious Country Week competition. First staged in 1922, Melbourne Country Week has long been considered the pinnacle for regionally based Victorian cricketers, with some of the game’s finest players participating over the years. His side went down to a 60 run defeat on Tuesday, with Zach grabbing a catch and six with the bat.
Scorecards:
Zach – Here
Sam – Here
Jordy & Ryan – Here
Caleb - Here
Oz Watch - Week Sixteen
Sat 31 Jan 2026
Interesting Fact: If you were tovisit all Australia's beaches at the rate of one per day, it would take over 29years to have a paddle on them all.
It was a day to forget for the Poms down under as Churchilland Pakenham embarked on two-day games and Sam was unable to contribute eithera run or a wicket in Northern Suburbs win that lifted them to third place inthe table. In the two-day games, Pakenham batted first and could only manage adisappointing 129 with Zach contributing six of those runs and the visitorswill start on 24-1 when they resume next week. When Churchill resume, they'llbe chasing Moe CC's 234-6. Neither Jordy or Ryan were amongst the wickets,although Ryan's 0-33 off 17 overs at less than two per over was creditable.
A couple of thousand miles to the South East on New Zealand's south island, new signing Caleb Donaldson was in action for his Heathcote CC side, against East Shirley. Much like the Oz players' weekend experiences, Caleb only contributed three runs in
Scorecards:
Zach – Here
Sam – Here
Jordy – Here
Oz Watch - Week Fifteen
Sun 25 Jan 2026
HOT STUFF (Interesting Fact): The Casey Cardinia Cricket Association, the league that Zach plays in, cancelled their entireSaturday programme due to a fifty-degree heatwave.
A few miles further East, despite the best efforts of both Jordan and Ryan, Churchill went down to a disappointing defeat against Glengarry that may just have killed off their championship ambitions. Battingfirst and with Jordy once again opening the batting, he received no support until Ryan joined him at 46-3 with Jordy already well into the 30s. They took the score to 76 before Jordy went lbw for 43 including three 4s and a six. Ryan batted on before he too became an lbw victim for 36 and the score stuttered onto a poor 146 all out. It never looked enough as every Glengarry batsman bar one, reached double figures and despite Jordan producing a sterling bowling effort with figures of 10-4-21-3, Churchill went down to a six-wicket defeat with six overs to spare.
Sam's contribution to his side's Saturday win, was negligible as the 'burbs cemented third spot with a 22-run win over local rivals Western Suburbs. Batting first they racked up 187-5 in the allotted 40 overs with Sam only managing three with the bat. The visitors were then bowled out for 165 with Sam one of seven bowlers used in what I suspect were sweltering conditions. His 1-3 in four overs helped secure the win as all butone of the bowlers captured at least one scalp.
We're now in a position to add a fifth down under player to Ozwatch as newly signed overseas player Caleb Donaldson enters our zone. The admins in New Zealand are a bit more laid back about posting match results and at present neither Caleb nor Finlay's results have been posted. Watch this space.
Scorecards:
Sam – Here
Jordy - Here
Oz Watch - Week Fourteen
Sun 18 Jan 2026
INTERESTING FACT: Australia was the first country in the world to introduce the mandatory wearing of seat belts.
Pakenham missed the opportunity to put pressure on the top clubs in the table for the run in to the season, with a very disappointing six run defeat to bottom placed club, Officer, presenting them with only their second win of the season. After piling up 309 in the reverse fixture, Zach's team could only muster 180 with Zach contributing just eight, including a six, as they failed to chase down the home side's 186-6. A stumping chance removed the Officer opener, but that was 'all she wrote' for the rest of the first innings and then Pakenham were all out with an over to spare, after an England style collapse saw the last six batsmen contributing just 11 runs.
The top four all went head to head in Churchill's division and Jordy's side were winners along with Morwell who went top. The Churchill team had to be content with remaining fourth but are well placed to mount a late charge on the top. After bowling out the Tralagon Imperials for just 100, they made short work of knocking off the runs, despite losing the first four with only 37 on the board. After capturing a wicket apiece, Jordy and Ryan donned the pads with Jordy finding himself in the unusual position of opening bat. He was out for 15 on 36-1, but that quickly became 37-4 as the jitters set in. No further wickets fell however as Churchill cemented 4th spot, nine points behind the leaders.
Sam's Northern Suburbs failed to launch their own championship challenge as they went down to a 21 run defeat against table toppers Bowthorne. At 115-7, the home side were in a bit of bother, but a late rally took the score to 175 all out off the final ball of their 40 overs. The 'Burbs produced a positive response and at 116-2 looked favourites with Sam contributing 21 in a 2nd wicket stand of 48. However the tail fell away as they huffed and puffed their way to 154-7 and 4th spot just six points behind the leaders.
Oz Watch - Week Thirteen
Sun 11 Jan 2026
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Interesting fact: The astronomical size of Australia couldn't have been better exemplified than by what Australians woke up to on Christmas Day. If you lived in Tasmania, you would have experienced the rare sight of a white Christmas as snow fell to compliment temperatures of -1.4 degrees, but 2,500 miles up the road in Perth, they were melting in a world wide high Christmas Day temperature of 42.1 degrees.
Jordy and Zach got back to cricket action with Sam having to wait a week to resume. Pakenham's recent revival continued as they cemented 3rd= place on the ladder with a 39 run win over Upper Beaconsfield which was their fourth successive victory. Batting first, Zach again opened the batting,posting 12 in a partnership of 23 before falling LBW. His teammates went on to make 175 all out off 39.4 overs in this, the latest one day game. The visitors were then restricted to 136 with Zach contributing a catch and a stumping which took his season's total to 12 victims.
Churchill failed to put pressure on the top sides with defeat against table toppers Ex Students. A win would have seen Ryan Ayres' side go top, but, despite an unbeaten 105 from the skipper who came to the crease at 13-4, his team went down to a devastating one wicket defeat after the Students' last pair knocked off the 13 runs required. Batting first in a one day game, Churchill posted a competitive 194-9, but the visitors responded positively as 138 was posted before the 2nd wicket fell. The middle order stuttered their way towards the target as wickets fell at regular intervals and achieved their win with three overs to spare. Jordy was still suffering from Christmas Pud syndrome as he wasn't able to contribute with the ball and scored only six with the bat.
A recent addition has been made to our 'down under' feature with the discovery that Finlay Testa is playing for Riccarton CC in New Zealand. Incredibly, he 'bumped into' a group of our intrepid holidaymakers whilst walking down the street in Christchurch! His experiences so far have been a bit mixed with with adopted team finding themselves rock bottom with one win all season. Last weekend was no different as, despite scoring 229 in their 50 overs, they went down to a two wicket defeat with two overs to spare. Fin scored five with the bat but didn't pick up any wickets to add to his 32 in all formats so far.
Scorecards:
Zach – Here
Jordy - Here