Rochester added yet another scalp to its 2025-26 season tally, taking down Nondies-Cohuna with a collective effort in round four. Photos: Bruce Povey
While Nondies-Cohuna has seen marked improvement in the past couple of rounds of the 2025-26 McMahon Shield, Rochester’s class proved too strong in round four.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Playing at Cohuna Recreation Reserve, the host won the toss and elected to bat first, getting off to a solid start with captain Josh Novoselek and Matt Oddie at the top of the order.
The pair batted through until the ninth over before Sean Williams carved out a double, sending Oddie (16) and Jamal Sukhon (0) packing within four balls.
Asher Rasmussen made his A-grade debut in round four, remaining three not out.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Left to pick up the pieces, Novoselek and Xavier Wishart established some consistency for the host through the middle overs.
The duo put on 63 and took its side to the cusp of the 30th over before Wishart (20) was ultimately undone by Jesse Cuttriss.
Brodie Bennett skies one.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
From there, things got a little bit dicey.
Brodie Bennett (11) and Zeb Ellwood (9) made starts with Judd Cuttriss producing similar dismissals for both, catches landing in the safe hands of Tim Bubb.
Matt Robinson hit 13 off as many balls before he became Williams’ third scalp, before the big wicket of Novoselek, run out by Brandon Byrne for an innings-defining 67 off 108 deliveries.
At the back-end of the innings, Nondies’ tail wagged as Broden Wishart (10 not out) and Kyeran Ellery (35 not out) gave their side some juice as they saw out the 50 overs.
Brandon Byrne drives through the covers.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Putting on a respectable target of 190 for Rochester to chase, Nondies looked in a good position to open its account.
Unfortunately for it, Rochester’s batting was too good to be denied.
Tim Bubb and Judd Cuttriss celebrate the dismissal of Zeb Ellwood.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
While the big wicket of Sean Williams (4) was snared early by Sukhon, his opening partner and captain Brandon Byrne combined well with Bubb.
The ever-consistent Byrne was on the verge of his second half-century of the season before he was brought undone one run shy by Kyeran Ellery.
Tim Bubb raises the bat for a half-century.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Oliver Williams (2) didn’t hang around long, with a mix-up between him and Bubb between the wickets resulted in a run out by Robinson.
Dragging his side to 129, Bubb was Ellery’s second scalp, being dismissed not long after raising his bat for a solid half-century.
Rochester celebrates Brodie Bennett’s dismissal.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Dylan Cuttriss wheeled and dealed for a whirlwind 61 off 44 deliveries before he retired not out and young guns Cale James (8 not out) and Asher Rasmussen (three not out), making his A-grade debut, got their side home in 43 overs.
The loss leaves Nondies as still the only side yet to win a game and sitting at the bottom of the ladder, while Rochester is in third with Echuca South hot on its heels.
Oliver Williams and Sean Williams combined to get Matthew Robinson out.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Rochester will host Kyabram Fire Brigade in round five and will look to continue its steady climb up the standings, while, Nondies will host an unbeaten Bamawm-Lockington United side at Cohuna Recreation Reserve.
Nondies captain Josh Novoselek led from the front with 67.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
The Game
Nondies-Cohuna 7-189 (Josh Novoselek 67, Kyeran Ellery 35 not out, Sean Williams 3-29) lt Rochester 4-191 (Dylan Cuttriss 61, Tim Bubb 50, Kyeran Ellery 2-39)
24°C