By Harrison Borthwick
THE Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association and its member clubs are preparing for another big summer of cricket across the peninsula and Frankston.
The first round commences on Saturday 3 October with one-day matches being played across the divisions.
The first six rounds of this season will be one-day matches with the second half of the season leading up to finals being majority two-day games.
Clubs across the association have done their fair share of recruiting over the offseason to make a push for success in 2026/27.
In the Provincial division, The Red Hill Cricket Club have pulled off one biggest heists in recent MPCA memory, recruiting Jack Taylor from Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in England.
Taylor has played at the professional level since 2010 and will help the Hillmen try and go one better after being defeated last season’s grand final.
Coming off back-to-back premierships, the Mornington Cricket Club will be without former Australian and Victorian leg-spinner Bryce McGain this season as he joins the board of Cricket Victoria. McGain took 25 wickets last season.
Otherwise, Mornington will go into the season relativity unchanged.
Sorrento have recruited batsman Tim Drummond who has come from captaining Parkdale Cricket Club, Drummond also played at Frankston Peninsula Cricket Club.
In the Peninsula division, Rosebud have welcomed Jess Hawkins back to the club as well as recruiting Zac Hailstone from South Caulfield.
The Bud’s have also announced the reappointment of Patrick Nagel as club captain for the upcoming season.
After going down in last year’s decider, Somerville have added to their already strong playing list recruiting Connor Smith from England and opening bowler Daniel Rogers from Kingston-Hawthorn.
Balnarring cricket club announced the signing of former Flinders captain Liam Wolters.
Wolters scored almost 400 runs last season as he takes on the club’s batting coach duties to help Balnarring make a push for provincial this season.
In District, Boneo Cricket Club have recruited brothers Jack and Sam Fowler from Dromana. The two all-rounders will likely push Boneo into premiership contention this season.
Coming off promotion after winning the sub-district premiership, Tyabb cricket club have reappointed James Holland-Burch as club captain and Jayden Regan as club coach.
Moorooduc have restocked after being relegated from Peninsula last season, Liam Walsh has signed as fulltime captain and they have recruited opening bowler from Flinders Jarryd Lymer who took 28 wickets last season.
In Sub-District Mt Martha have signed Luke Kranzbuler from Frankston Peninsula and Rob Willis from Woodbridge.
Both have made of plenty of runs in the past and will help Mt Martha make a tilt for the premiership after falling just short each of the past three seasons.
Ahead of the upcoming season, bonus points for strong batting and bowling performances have been implemented.
The MPCA are going from strength to strength in terms of their women’s participation numbers, with a couple of clubs to field a women’s team for the first time this season.
In a first for the MPCA, 2nd XI promotion and relegation has been introduced. Eight clubs will have their 2nd XI in a different division to their 1st XI this season.
A new format for lower grades cricket has come into effect from this season, with A-grade remaining 60 over two-day games, B-grade will become one-day games only, and C-grade becomes a new T20 competition.
Lower grade competitions will commence on Saturday 10 October.
ROUND ONE FIXTURE
PROVINCIAL
Saturday 3 October, 12.30pm:
Old Peninsula v Mornington – Peninsula Grammar / Harry MacDonald Oval
Pines v Sorrento – Eric Bell Reserve
Baden Powell v Red Hill – Overport Park
Langwarrin v Dromana – Lloyd Park
PENINSULA
Saturday 3 October, 12.30pm:
Mt Eliza v Long Island – Emil Madsen Reserve
Crib Point v Heatherhill – Crib Point Recreational Reserve
Seaford v Somerville – R.F Miles Reserve
Rosebud v Balnarring – Olympic Park Reserve
DISTRICT
Saturday 3 October, 12.30pm:
Boneo v Seaford Tigers – Boneo Recreation Reserve
Carrum Downs v Carrum – Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve
Rye v Flinders – Rosebud Secondary College
Tyabb v Moorooduc – Bunguyan Reserve
SUB DISTRICT
Saturday 3 October, 12.30pm:
Main Ridge v Frankston YCW – AR & F Ditterich Reserve
Mt Martha v Baxter – Ferrero Reserve
Delacombe Park v Skye – Delacombe Park Reserve
Tootgarook v Pearcedale – Hastings Park
Ballam Park – Bye
First published in the Mornington News – 29 September 2026
