Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association

10/06/2026

We are thrilled to announce that Nick Hallam is locked in for the 2026/27 season, returning for his second year as playing Assistant Coach 🔥🏏

A masterclass in touch and timing, making the hardest gaps in the ground look entirely vacant. Known for his high cricket IQ and an anchor in our batting line up, Nick brings pure class to the crease.

More importantly, his passion for growing our club on and off the field embodies everything we stand for!

Super excited to see what this season brings for you Nick! Looking forward to having you, Alyce and Louie back around the club 💙💛

31/05/2026

Over the past three seasons, Dan Donaldson has been an outstanding player, captain, coach, and member of BHCC. We are incredibly grateful for everything he has contributed, both on and off the field. We're sad to announce that he will be moving on.

Dan’s leadership, professionalism, and passion helped shape the culture of our club. His ability to make training enjoyable while driving high standards played a significant role in the success of our teams, including three premierships last season. He was also a fantastic mentor to our younger players and someone all members could look up to.

During his time at BHCC, Dan was a 2x A-Grade Premiership player (including one as captain), a Grand Final Man of the Match, 3x Club Champion, 3x A-Grade League Team of the Year member, 3x A-Grade Club Bowling Aggregate winner, 1x A-Grade League Bowling Average winner, and coach of 4 Premierships.

As Dan moves on to pursue new opportunities, we thank him for everything he has given to the club and wish him every success in the future. BHCC will always welcome you back.

09/05/2026

Queenscliff Cricket Club is pleased to announce that Hayden Illingworth will continue to lead our Men’s Program for the 2026/27 season.

Well respected across both the club and league, Hayden’s leadership, and commitment to the Queenscliff way, will continue to drive our program forward into another big season.

🔴⚪🔵

02/05/2026

🟢🟡RETURNING PLAYER🟡🟢

We are thrilled to announce that Jasper George has decided to return to the burras for the 26/27 season.

Jasper is an Inverleigh junior and has played multiple senior seasons with us, most recently scoring 393 runs and taking 18 wickets in the 22/23 season. He returns after a season with South Barwon is division 1 and a year off cricket last season.

Jasper will be an amazing asset to our A Grade side with his ability to take wickets and make quick runs being something we’ve missed.

We can’t wait to see him in action!

26/04/2026

It’s official! We’re proud to welcome Tom Scott back to the club as our new senior men’s coach.

Tom returns after several years of competing at the premier cricket level with a wealth of knowledge & experience.

Everyone at Barrabool can’t wait to see Tom get to work.

22/04/2026

Star recruit heads back to Armstrong Creek Cricket Club for 2026/27 season.

🔥 GUESS WHO'S BACK 🔥

This is the one you’ve all been waiting for…

🏏 CLAY MULGREW IS COMING HOME 🏏

This man needs absolutely no introduction. Fresh off a season opening the batting for South Barwon in GCA1 — including three half‑centuries and a nerve‑tingling top score of 99. Prior to this, at such a young age, he's already etched himself in BPCA and Titan folklore:

📊 BPCA Highlights
✅ 56 Matches
✅ 2,359 Runs @ 54.86
✅ 1,656 Runs in his last two seasons
✅ 9 x Centuries
✅ 2 x A1 Ray Menzies Medalist (MVP)
✅ 1 x A1 Fred Warren Medalist (Grand Final POTM)
✅ Best Bowling: 6/60 (25 overs)

The club, our community, and everyone involved are pumped to welcome back a player who is already arguably one of our all‑time greats.
Welcome home, Clay!

29/03/2026

2026-27 BLUES ANNOUNCEMENT - JARROD GROVES & RICCI SAUNI

We're really excited to share some fantastic news, with Jarrod & Ricci signing on as Co-Coach’s for the next two season.

We would also like to thank Shane Murdoch who has coached the last 3 seasons and taken us to our first A2 Premiership and Promotion into A1. Shane will be remaining at the Club as a Senior Player for 2026/27 season.

Congratulations and all the best for the upcoming Season

27/03/2026

Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association 2025/26 title winners

A1 - Barwon Heads
A2 - Winchelsea
B1 - Barwon Heads
B2 - Inverleigh
C1 - Barwon Heads
D grade one-day overall premiers - Jan Juc

27/03/2026

Thanks to Ocean Grove Voice and Geelong Indy, Geelong Advertiser Sport and Bellarine Times and Surf Coast Times publications for their great coverage of Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association finals including the BPCA grand finals coverage across all grades.

Here are some newspaper layouts of the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association grand finals coverage.

Special thanks to Justin Flynn, Ivan Kemp of Ocean Grove Voice and Geelong Independent, Paddy Sinnott of Times News Group and the Geelong Advertiser sports editorial department.

26/03/2026

DONALDSON ADMITS PRESSURE GOT TO HIM ON DAY 1 AS SEAGULLS COMPLETE AN UNBLEMISHED SEASON TO CLAIM A1 TITLE

BPCA A1 Grade Grand Final (R Warren Shield)
Barwon Heads v Queenscliff
RT Fuller Oval, Barwon Heads
Saturday March 21 and Sunday March 22

By Mark Heenan

Barwon Heads Cricket Club Cricket Club premiership captain-coach Daniel Donaldson admits his nervous energy on day one of its grand final clash got the better of him.
Three no balls in the first over from left arm quick Sema Kamea, a former Papua New Guinea international cricketer, added to a drop catch from Donaldson, which he described as a ‘sitter’ on day one did not help.
Though the undefeated Barwon Heads Cricket Club (3/164) Queenscliff Cricket Club (160) won by seven wickets to claim the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A1 title (R Warren Title) on Saturday March 21 and Sunday March 22 at RT Fuller Oval at Barwon Heads.
“I (dropped) an absolute sitter which I should have taken 100 times out of 100 here and my mind ticked what I have done here? It was a very dangerous batsman that I have dropped,” Donaldson told the BPCA media podcast in conjunction with Justin Flynn from the Ocean Grove Voice and Geelong Independent.
“And I dropped (the batsman Lachie Kidd) a few overs later and we put down nine chances (on Saturday on day one).”
Barwon Heads A1 completed an unblemished 2025/26 and went through home and away rounds and two finals undefeated.
Donaldson (6/53 from 25 overs) won the prestigious man of the match honours and was awarded the Fred Warren medal for his decisive six-wicket haul on day one.
Donaldson, a leg spinner all-rounder, took six of the last seven wickets and ripped apart the Coutas’ middle order.
Queenscliff which won the toss and batted was bowled out in 75 overs – Donaldson claimed the last wicket on the final ball of the Couta innings when Queenscliff coach Hayden Illingworth was caught.
Illingworth (44) top scored for the visitors and hit two sixes and two boundaries, while Couta run machine Lockie Philp (33) was the next best with the bat.
Seagull multiple A grade premiership player Sam Schaller (2/27 from 22 overs) helped turned the game in favour of Barwon Heads with his two wickets and lengthy bowling stint.
Angus Mackie and Sema Kamea had impressive bowling spells, while Darcy Hewitt took one wicket and there was also a run out.

On day two, Barwon Heads was in the box seat with Queenscliff’s total of 160 not enough to defend.
Seagull aggressive opener Lewy Hyland (55 from only 57 balls) flew out of the blocks with his blistering half century which included 10 boundaries and one six.
Hyland and fellow opener Max Melzer (51), who won the BPCA A1 batting average for 2025/26, laid the foundations for the 74-run opening stand.
Melzer confirmed he was wary of the Coutas - the Seagulls pushed Barwon Heads in Round 12 after the undefeated A1 ladder leader was bowled out for 187 in 56.1 overs though they still won by 35 runs.
“(I was) extremely wary (of Queenscliff),” Melzer said of Queenscliff post match.
“They were clearly the second best team in it – going into the game I thought they (Queenscliff) were a genuine 50/50 chance. “
BPCA A1 most valuable player and Ray Menzies medallist Jordan Monahan (1/54 from 16 overs) took one wicket,
Seagull no.3 Matthew Bode (41) played a pivotal knock in the run chase, he Melzer shared in 72-run second wicket stand.
Young Seagull star Angus Mackie (8 not out) hit the winning runs, while captain-coach Dan Donadson (1 not out) was not out at the non-strikers’ end.

Barwon Heads have created a dynasty – they have now won two A1 titles (2025/26 and 2023/24) in three seasons and were runners-up to Armstrong Creek in the 2024/25 A1 decider. The Seagulls won A1 promotion in 2023/24 after they won the A2 title in 2022/23 – so three A grade titles in four seasons.
Donaldson spoke proudly of his club’s recent A1 success.
“I thought from the early stages of last season we were a bit of developmental squad and were going to finish middle of the road – to get to the grand final was such a wonderful achievement,” Donaldson said.
“I was absolutely devastated to lose that (last season’s grand final), yes I sort of said to the guys in the sheds last year we don’t want to experience this feeling again.
“We kept rolling and rolling and we improved this season.”

*** CLICK BELOW TO HEAR FROM BARWON HEADS CRICKET CLUB CAPTAIN-COACH DANIEL DONALDSON AND STAR SEAGULL BATTING DUO LEWY HYLAND AND MAX MELZER ***

https://on.soundcloud.com/SQepJLoGArj929uK4P

Picture team photo: Mark Heenan Media

Photo gallery from BPCA A1 grand final on day two on Sunday March 22. Photo gallery Mark Heenan Media

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