ADCA 2025-26: Denmark enjoy the high life as Otway’s 82 sees off Mt Barker while Railways sink against Royals

Oh, how they must be enjoying the A-grade in Denmark as Campbell Robertson’s merry men did a demolition job on Mt Barker in the Albany and Districts Cricket Association competition on Saturday. After dominating the B-grade for several years, the Magpies gambled on a return to the big-time this season, partly out of ambition and partly because they worried their best young talent would go elsewhere unless they were offered a new challenge. The previous week they saw off Railways, which, to be honest, has not been that hard this campaign, but Saturday’s 89-run win against an experienced team of flag-chasers has earned them credibility among the big boys. Put in by their opponents, they proceeded to make the most of the opportunity as Lochlan Otway and Robertson ran the show from the outset at Turf South. Robertson, who walloped a century the previous week and scored freely on Saturday, looked all class and seemed certain to get his 50 but was caught napping by a fizzing delivery from Ryan Gaerth, who split his stumps when he was on 48. Otway, however, took up the cudgels in front of his mum in the scorers’ hut and reached his half-century courtesy of a nudge down to third man in the 24th over. He continued to plunder runs until he was finally caught and bowled by Sam Keeling-Wright for a super 82 which included a six at the expense of a friendly delivery from Ulrich Kriek. By the time Otway was heading to the clubhouse, the Magpies were 5-219, with Jed Schwarzbach having chipped in 21 runs, Matt Burton a useful 30, and Peter Ross 10. The Bulls might have thought they would snaffle up the tail, but they were treated to an unbeaten 34-ball 42 from Lewis Culver, who put the gloss on an already useful tally and took the Magpies to 7-266. The Bulls’ reply started with a stutter as Alex Fergie was dismissed for 13 and Keeling-Wright for a duck, but Gaerth kept his head even as Luke Hammond (0), Jeremy Wood (8) and Jarrad Gardner (12) were dismissed cheaply. Lucas Baker joined Gaerth and the pair set about the chase, but after Gaerth was run out for 87, Baker was next to go for 41 to leave the Bulls 7-173. That turned out to be that as the last three men added only four runs for a total of 177 and the Magpies went chirping home. Best with the ball for the winners was Ethan Forman with 3-26, and then Culver with 2-23. Otway, after his heroics with the bat, was the man who grabbed the wicket of Baker, with the help of a catch from Jed Schwarzbach. Jarrad Gardner was the best bowler on a bad day for the Bulls, snagging 3-45. Railways hit-rock bottom on Sunday, bowled out for 75 by Royals on a blustery afternoon at Turf North. They did, however, salvage some pride as they had knocked off four Lions’ batters before succumbing by six wickets. Put in by the Lions, they lost Devon Jefferis and Billy O’Meara with only six runs on the board, and although Milan Jaggi and Coen Marwick launched something of a rearguard action, Marwick was out lbw to Matt Thompson for 17 to leave Railways on 3-35. Milan Jaggi hung around for 50 balls as Mohit Jaggi — also lbw to Thompson — and Mitchell T’Hart were also dismissed. Milan Jaggi’s 16 was bettered only by Marwick’s 17 as the Lions ran riot. Ryley Valli captured three wickets for just six runs at the end, while France took 3-9. The Lions made some changes to their batting order but they were in early bother at 4-21. Hayden Parker was out for a golden duck, trapped lbw by Daniel Thomas before Teague Valli (7) and Davey Wignall (7) went cheaply. Ryley Valli was out for five, caught by Thomas off Marwick (2-26) before Lincoln Joy, unbeaten on 34, and Leighton Smith, unbeaten on 14, put an end to the fun and games and saw their side home inside 21 overs.