Orange Wanderers Cricket CLUB

Sponsor Shout Out

Like any community based sporting organisation, we rely on the support of local community businesses to help us run our club and keep local sport alive.

We are proud to be sponsored by Orange Disability Support Services for this 2025/2026 Season.

Orange Disability Support Services provides a wide array of disability support services and also support to the general public with tenant advocacy and Centrelink. Their mission is to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities by providing tailored, compassionate support that promotes independence, personal growth, and social inclusion.

Orange Disability Support Services also has an online store where you can purchase hand made products made by individuals supported by Orange Disability Support Services: https://www.orangedisabilitysupportservices.com.au/shop/

You can also learn more about the services they provide to our community here: https://www.orangedisabilitysupportservices.com.au/

Thank you Orange Disability Support Services for your support and for supporting local sport!

Continuing with our family posts, this one is belated but a heartwarming story of a family of cricket battlers. Our beloved kit man, Mathew "Zoidberg" Reynolds, had his father Jack and two brothers Adam and Luke assist our Fighting 3's in their Round 6 Clash against Cyms at Max Stewart.
Unfortunately batting does appear to be hereditary, with the Reynolds family combining for 0 runs, with three golden ducks but an unbeaten 0* for our kit man Zoidy.
Notwithstanding it wasn't their day with the bat, it was great day out with smiles all round. Scores are nowhere near as important as family and getting the boys together for a day of cricket is always one to remember! We were glad to be able to assist you in creating that memory.

(Photo below left to right: Jack Reynolds, Adam Reynolds, Luke Reynolds, Mathew Reynolds).

From the last round of 2025 with the T20's being played, our Waratah Sports Club Men of the Day for 2nd and 3rd Grade go to Gavin Smith and Chris Pethybridge.

Gavin made his return to 2nd grade after suffering some injuries and boy was he out to do some damage to that ball. A Single Innings knock of 53 off of 38 balls in the first match set the lads up to a strong defensive total. Gavin made the boundary look small, even slotting a six from JB4 that hit the covers on JB1 on the full. His second innings wasn't as good but still good enough for Gav to get the days player.

In 3rd Grade, whilst it wasn't meant to be for the lads, some great wicketkeeping from Chris Pethybridge and an excellent knock in his first innings of 28 from 33 balls helped set up our Fighting 3's for a chance at their first win of the season. Whilst it wasn't to be for the lads, Chris' hard earned runs and stalwart keeping across both games whilst the 3's lads suffered injury after injury saw him come away with his pint for the day.

Well done gents!

Third Grade kicked off their T20 tournament in ODCA on 20 December 2025 as defending champions fir their first two rounds as they had the byes in Rounds 1 and 2.
Some better batting figures from the boys based on their most recent games and T20 is definitely their playing style going the distance in both matches. A return from the Big Seal himself, Dean Turner, to play with his son Lachlan saw some quick boundaries to see the boys off the mark. Chris Pethybridge dug in in his usual fashion and the rest of the lads chipped in to set out a decent chase in the short format.
It seemed to be a decent total struck in the first match against Centrals, however Centrals recent bringing some imports from higher grades against the lads bowling attack made short work of it, chasing down the total in 11 overs.

In the second match, the boys' day went from bad to worse, suffering from a few injuries from the first match and an injury in the second match to Tim Cubby who soldiered on after suffering a stray ball off the bat leaving him unable to field. This unfortunately left the lads quite short and there were too many gaps in the field which Cyms utilised to full effect to get the total in a quick fashion. The boys did see out their full 20 overs, a credit to them, though someone may have needed to remind Zoidy he was playing a T20 ;) with his unbeaten 15* from 54 balls.

A promising turnaround for the lads and full credit to them for fighting on whilst playing short. Hopefully the injuries will settle and they will continue to build for the second half of the season and into the rest of the T20 tournament. Keep it up lads!

Update from the last round from 2nd grade for 2025. The lads had their T20 rounds and faced off against City and Cavaliers.
The boys looked in form with the bat as Steve "the Dream" Nean and Daniel "David" Lang put on an opening partnership of 42 before the first fall of wicket. Then out came Gavin Smith who as the wickets fell around him, made good work on the short ball, including hitting a six from JB4 so far that it hit the covers on JB1 on the full.
The boys finished their innings 5/156 at the end of 20 overs, a seemingly sizeable total. However not to be outdone, whilst the lads got off to a great start with the ball, getting some early wickets including a run out leaving City at 10 overs at 5/63. City had a lot of work to do, and unfortunately, their captain did, as Shaun Churchill went on to bash an 85* not out and City scraped a victory with only 3 balls to be bowled in the innings. Another close defeat by the lads for the third time against City who are at the top of the table.

In the second game of the day, the boys had Cavaliers and the sun and the first game took its toll. After electing to bat first (no one wanted to run) the boys were all out for 110, with some good hitting from Matthew "Bud" O'Niell.
It was a small but not indefensible total and the lads started to make quick work of the cavalier batsmen. It looked as though Cavaliers might take the day, when Bud was brought on to bowl and took 3 wickets in only 7 balls to give the win to Wanderers!

This weeks Waratah Sports Club Man of the Match in both grades go to Mathew "Zoidy" Reynolds for 3rd Grade and Darryl "DK" Kennewell for 2nds.
Zoidy is a stalwart and kit man for the Club and was looking like setting in for a solid innings before getting unstuck by a good nut.
DK set the world on fire almost landing a double hatrick, but i suppose he had to settle for a hatrick and a 5fa and seeing the lads get the W in 2nds to take honours for the 2's.
Well done this week gents.

In 2nd grade news, 2nd grade are finally getting the results they've been wanting, now two on the trot! Wins over Centrals and Cyms have seen some really good team performances and some outstanding bowling.
Against Centrals, Ed Elwood on debut took a 4fa and the team brought it home with two wickets to spare.
In the last round on the weekend, Cyms put themselves into bat from the toss and sent the boys out in the heat. With only 9 players this was looking pretty like a big ask, however with some solid fielding, including a run out, things looked solid at drinks. Then El Capitan, Darryl Kennewell put himself back into bowl, taking a hatrick and and 5 wickets!
The batsmen for Wanderers then got into their work early and cleared the run total of 195 set by Cyms within 30 overs.
Great work lads!

This cricket reporter has been a bit slack the last couple of weeks, so here are 3rd grades results from the last two rounds.
Our thirsty thirds have had a bit of a time of it the last couple of weeks, struggling to put on runs with the bat. Some promising performances but improvement needed from the lads to get going again.

well done Ed Elwood on debut 4fa and hitting the winning runs v Centrals.

Get up to Tahs tomorrow for a bit of fun around the tables.