Final blow: The game concludes after Echuca South’s Joel Stephens is run out by Rochester wicket keeper, Daniel Major.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Echuca South had no answers to Rochester’s rounded performance with bat and ball on Saturday.
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With round one a washout a week prior, this was the first chance for Goulburn Murray A-graders to hit the park, with Rochester wasting little time notching up the 291-run win over South.
Rochester skipper Sean Williams said the resolute win was a credit to all the hard work his team had put in over the pre-season.
“It was pleasing to start the year with a positive win,” Williams said.
“It’s a credit to the boys that they all played extremely well and played their part.”
Utilising their home ground advantage, Rochester won the toss and headed to the crease first, with a sturdy middle order capitalising on a good pitch.
The first wicket went cheaply though, Cory Jacobs caught off an Alex Wagner delivery as Rochester started 1-9.
From then on though, it was hard to find a chink in Rochester’s armour.
Williams stepped up to the plate and blasted everything South threw at him, hitting 81 runs off 91 balls, with Dylan Cuttriss equally as damaging (61 from 46).
With Williams and Cuttriss’ partnership steering the side past 180, before Cameron Hay broke through for both dismissals, it was then up to Charlie Ryan to take up the mantle, as he blasted his way to 76 runs from 49 deliveries.
Ryan, with the help of Angus Martin (15) and Blake Evans (34), guided Rochester past the 300 mark, with the pressure then on Echuca South to answer.
South’s time at the crease was limited though, Rochester knocking off the line-up for 44 runs in less than 25 overs.
An even attack, led by Martin (3-21) kept South’s batsmen at bay, with Jacobs, along with Myles Wade and Fraser Cleary, also celebrating two wickets.
“We bowled in good areas and it paid off,” Williams said. “It was a good all-round performance.”
South skipper Shaun Haffenden was a standout for his team, taking three wickets and hitting a team-high 16 runs.
Rochester will contend with reigning premier Kyabram Fire Brigade this weekend, with the latter also enjoying a round two win over Leitchville-Gunbower.
With Kyabram knocking Rochester out of the semi-finals last season, Williams said his team was looking forward to a rematch.
“It will be a really good game, I reckon,” he said.
“The boys have a bit of confidence now and know they can post these sort of totals. Hopefully we can continue with that performance.”
Echuca South hosts competition newbies, Nondies Cohuna, in what will be their first game of the season after holding a bye in round two.
Good knock: Rochester’s Dylan Cuttriss brings up a half century with a boundary.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Player of the match
Rochester’s Charlie Ryan just pips his skipper Sean Williams for this week’s honour. Ryan took just over an hour to post 76 from 49 deliveries, including 12 boundaries. The solid knock helped Rochester push well into the 300s to put the game well and truly to bed.
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