Cricket
16 January, 2026
How each team stands in the HCA
The Horsham Cricket Association A grade competition returns to action for the first time in the new year this Saturday as teams play one-dayers in their round nine games.
With five rounds left to play, Wimmera Mallee News takes a look at how each team stands as the race for finals spots heats up.
Laharum (1st, 44 points)
The Demons are undoubtedly the in-form team leading into the 2026 portion of the season.
After losing their opening two games, Laharum won six straight before Christmas, with outright wins against Lubeck-Murtoa and the Tigers helping elevate them to the top of the ladder.
Laharum’s proficiency with both bat and ball has helped launch them to the top of the table. The Demons have totalled 1455 runs across the season, the second highest in the competition, and are leading the competition with 89 wickets.
Strengthening the case for the Demons going forward is the abundance of all-around contributors they have.
Players like Chaminda Gamage, Jason Kannar and Jackson Hoffman have regularly delivered with either bat or ball, as all three have each scored over 100 runs for the season while also taking 10 or more wickets.
West Wimmera (2nd, 42 points)
The Warriors had a near-perfect 2025 portion of the season, winning their first six games before suffering their first loss in round seven against Swifts-Great Western.
Barring Laharum, who they have yet to play, West Wimmera have beaten every team in the top eight.
While they don’t have the cumulative numbers that Laharum do, West Wimmera have one of the most reliable batting units, having lost just 38 wickets so far this season, 12 fewer than the next best team.
With both the competition-leading runscorer (Brad Alexander) and wicket taker (Nathan Alexander) at the helm, the Warriors are well positioned to progress to the finals.
Noradjuha Tooloondo Bullants (3rd, 40 points)
Last year’s grand finalists have signalled that they are well and truly in the mix for this season’s premiership.
The Bullants have pulled off several decisive wins, as indicated by them having taken 83 wickets while having only lost 50 with the bat.
With the team having two of the league’s best bowlers in Matthew Combe and Tony Caccaviello, the Bullants remain formidable as they aim to secure a finals spot in the coming rounds.
Swifts-Great Western (4th, 40 points)
After a positive start to their first season in the competition, SGW put the league on notice with their victory over West Wimmera in round seven.
The Combine team have arguably the best top order in the league, with Zachary Marrow, Aiden Graveson and Max McMahon among the top 10 runscorers in the league heading into Saturday.
Recent wins have also demonstrated SGW has a potent bowling attack, which will need to deliver ahead of tough games against Donald Jeffcott and the Bullants in the next two rounds.
Donald Jeffcott (5th, 34 points)
Along with fellow newcomers SGW, Donald Jeffcott quickly asserted themselves as a finals contender.
The side has amassed the most runs (1512) by any side, led by Koby Westerland and Dylan Ruurds, both among the top five runscorers in the league.
With just 10 points separating first-place and fifth, the game against SGW on Saturday looms as pivotal in Donald Jeffcott’s finals push.
Brim Kellalac Sheep Hills (6th, 24 points)
The Eagles have had a mixed season to date, producing emphatic wins over teams like the Bullants and Colts, but have also suffered heavy defeats.
While they have the best team bowling average of any team, their inconsistent batting has let them down on several occasions.
Improved batting performances will be pivotal to help push Brim KSH into the top four.
Colts (7th, 18 points)
Resilient wins in rounds seven and eight against the Tigers and Eagles have kept the Colts’ finals hopes alive.
But with a challenging set of games to finish the season, the side will have to produce its best cricket to give itself a chance of the top four.
Having suffered a couple of batting collapses this season, the side will be tested this Saturday against a strong Bullants bowling attack.
Lubeck Murtoa (8th, 12 points)
The Mudlarks had a promising start to the season with two early wins, but five straight losses have effectively ended their chances to play finals cricket.
If Lubeck Murtoa can recapture its early-season form, it could not only finish in the middle of the pack but also shake up the finals race.
Horsham Tigers (9th, six points)
After some tough early losses, the Tigers have shown improvement throughout the season, which included posting their first win against St Mary’s.
While the side won’t contend for a finals spot, the backhalf of the season presents a great opportunity for some of their young talent, like Callum Jackson and Joel Plazzer, to get valuable experience.
St Mary’s (10th, 0 points)
The competition newcomers have been spirited in their first season in the HCA, but have been outmatched on numerous occasions.
Daniel Westerland with the bat and Aiden Keys with the ball have been bright spots.
The team will look to secure their first win before the season’s end.
This Saturday, Lubeck Murtoa hosts Brim KSH at Murtoa Recreation Reserve, Donald Jeffcott goes against SGW at Donald Recreation Reserve, West Wimmera hosts St Mary’s at Davis Park, the Colts take on the Bullants at Dudley Cornell Park, and the Tigers meet league leaders Laharum at City Oval in Horsham.
B grade also recommences, with the Bullants taking on the Colts at Noradjuha Recreation Reserve, St Mary’s hosts Donald Jeffcott at Anzac Park, the Tigers meet the Rup-Minyip Panthers at Dimboola Road Oval, the Horsham Saints hosts West Wimmera at Coughlin Park, and Brim KSH goes against SGW at Brim Recreation Reserve.
Leading runscorers (A Grade)
1. Brad Alexander (West Wimmera) runs: 354, average: 88.50.
2. Koby Westerland (Donald Jeffcott) runs: 269, avg: 33.63.
3. Zachary Marrow (Swifts-Great Western) runs: 268, avg: 44.67.
4. Dylan Ruurds (Donald Jeffcott) runs: 255, avg: 31.88.
5. Aiden Graveson (Swifts-Great Western) runs: 245, avg 30.63.
Leading wicket-takers (A Grade)
1. Nathan Alexander (West Wimmera) wickets: 20, average: 7.05.
2. Matthew Combe (Bullants) wickets: 20, avg: 11.
3. Tony Caccaviello (Bullants) wickets: 18, avg: 18.83.
4. Zachary Marrow (Swifts-Great Western) wickets: 17, avg: 13.12.
5. Shannon Reddie (Lubeck Murtoa) wickets: 16, avg: 17.31.
