Geraldton Bendigo Bank cricket season review: Sporties reign supreme as other sides produce highlights

The 2025-26 Geraldton Bendigo Bank cricket season wrapped up last weekend with Sportsmans winning the title, after earlier claiming the Young Motors T20 Cup. Local cricket expert Victor Tanti takes a look at the past summer of Geraldton cricket. SPORTSMANS Had a great summer ending in a six-wicket grand final win over Wanderers. Clint Yeates (495 runs at 30.38, 22 wickets at 9.59) won a third Doug Hogue Medal and was five runs short of a ninth 500-run season. Ben O’Brien averaged 14.87 in 50-over games, but 257 runs in four T20s meant an overall 376 runs at 37.60. He was also handy with the ball, taking 23 wickets at 8.56. Paceman Zak Williamson (30 wickets at 8.36) took 6-26, 6-31 and 5-9 in successive 50-over games while Dan Welsh (25 at 8.46) was amazing. Matt Greenlees (17 at 7.17) was a fifth sub-10 bowler. Jarrod Jupp (269 runs/15 wickets) did his job, as did batters Ryan Dixon (268 runs), captain Riley Barham (196), Simon Evans (186) and Josh McGlynn (146). Darcy Ingle (22 catches/two stumpings) made 291 runs at 29.10. Flynn Dillon’s outfield catching was memorable and Aaron McAuliffe’s 120 (v CVN) reminded us that class endures. WANDERERS Great cricket to bowl out Towns for 141 defending 150 in the preliminary final. Kade Gillingham (428 runs at 28.53) and Zane Marwick (334 runs at 47.71) led the batters. Shayne Bidwell (debut 1998-99) had another trademark performance this summer with 356 runs at 39.55 and 14 wickets at 14.50. Gus Heberle (229 runs at 17.61/11 wickets at 19.45) scored a maiden 50, while Damien King (27 at 12.96), Mitch Thompson (14 at 13.42) and Justin Clarkson (13 at 18.61) were solid bowling options. Marwick conceded less than two an over while young Colin Culloton, Jet Plunkett, Ashlyn Thompson and Ausytn Moulds had moments. TOWNS Lost the T20 final and the preliminary final despite winning positions. Kodi Giltrow (296 runs at 26.90/18 wickets at 14.72) shone, while there were runs from Callum Marquis (277), Austin Breen (276), Ryan Thomas (157) and Sam Crouch (158). However, only Thomas and Darcy Giltrow (171 runs) averaged above 20. Crouch bowled keenly (25 wickets at 15.32) along with Tom Forsyth (21 at 10.71), Breen (18 at 16.55), Tom Witt (18 at 17.83) and Josh DeLacy (15 at 21.46). Nate Thomas-Magee (16 outs) kept well throughout the season CHAPMAN VALLEY-NORTHAMPTON Skilled on their day with two wins and a tie versus Wanderers and a win over Sporties. Adam Goacher (352 runs at 25.14) and Nigel Routledge (295 runs at 22.69) led the batting efforts. With the ball, Goacher (15 wickets at 10.80) and Brad Boyer (22 at 19.63) led, while Ethan McQuade, Mitch Marsh and Lachie Teakle had 12, 11 and 10 wickets respectively. BLUFF POINT Seb Bainbridge, like CVN’s Goacher, was also an English import, and made 398 runs at 26.53. Cody Doran (205 runs), Jayden Pinto (175) and Callum Joss (162) had input. Stymied by the lack of a fifth bowler but James Morrison (15 wickets at 16.66), Antonio Paradella (18 at 18.66) and Doran (15 at 23.30) had wins. Bainbridge, not a showy gloveman, had 21 dismissals.