Sport
7 March, 2026
Naughton’s unbeaten ton has Bulls charging
A BLISTERING unbeaten century by Bridgewater skipper Toby Naughton saw the Bulls storm into the Upper Loddon cricket finals at the expense of Arnold.
Big partnerships with Tom McKinley and Josh Martyn bookended a collapse of 4-15 that gave the Redbacks some hope.
Naughton and McKinley hit 134 for first wicket before McKinley was out for a fine 70, with seven fours.
Brothers of the opening pair than fell cheaply when Nic Naughton (3) and Harry McKinley (0) both were dismissed with the score on 148.
Andrew Collins also made a duck, with the Bulls slumping to 4-149.
However, when Josh Martyn joined his captain the Arnold surge ended quickly.
An 80-run fifth-wicket partnership saw Bridgewater total 4-229 from 35 overs.
Naughton was 106 not out, a hand that included five fours, while Martyn added 33 runs.
Cameron Dale took 3-39 from seven overs as the Redback bowlers took a caning.
Arnold needed a solid start, but four wickets fell for only four runs after a 13-run opening stand.
The wickets included key batsmen Dale (0) and Henry McCullough (3) as the Redbacks stuttered to 4-17 in 13 overs, with Martyn and Collins each taking two wickets.
Opening bowlers Lewis Lonsdale and Seth Hewett-Scull failed to snare a wicket, but their bowling was deadly accurate.
Lonsdale bowled five overs for seven runs, with two maidens, while Hewett-Scull’s three overs cost only five runs.
Flynn Lock’s 24 was a standout for Arnold and included two fours and a thumping six.
Adam Davies’ 14 batting at number seven added some late runs to the total, but the Redbacks could only reach 9-74 off 25.2 overs for a 155-run defeat.
Martyn’s 4-26 completed a fine all-round performance, while Collins captured 2-15.
The win saw Bridgewater leapfrog Arnold into fourth place and a meeting with ladder-topping Kingower in next Saturday’s semi-final.
+ THE CLASH between Wedderburn Band and Boort Yando was abandoned due to a wet outfield after 25mm soaked Market Square on Friday night and Saturday morning.
The turf wicket was covered, but the bowlers’ run-ups were sodden and unsafe for play.
Victory for the Magpies would have seen them finish on top of the ladder, but three points only for the abandoned match saw them finish in second place.
Wedderburn will be their opponents on Saturday in the semi-final at Boort Park.