Rochester on the brink of elimination

By Matthew Kappos

Feb 19, 2024

Tough Day: Sean Williams took 4-29 to help dismiss Echuca for a respectable 136, however Rochy finds itself on the precipice of elimination after a shambolic start to its run chase. Photos: Bruce Povey

Rochester’s season may be ending in heartbreak after Echuca finished day one well on top in their McMahon Shield clash at Victoria Park.

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After winning its past six matches, Rochester clung on to a top-four place heading into the final Goulburn Murray Cricket round.

However, game situations around the league put its finals hopes in jeopardy, with the visitors crumbling to 6-39 at stumps in response to Echuca’s 136.

Fired up: Matt Harrington celebrates his catch of Kobyn James.

The host side was sent in to bat and started shakily, losing openers Curtis Townrow (4) and Ewan Davidson (10) cheaply to fall to 2-19.

But then Matthew Hinks came to the crease and settled in for the long haul.

As others fell around him, he remained steadfast, facing 149 deliveries on his way to 49. By the time he was dismissed, Echuca had clawed its way to a respectable 9-128, with the home side eventually posting 136.

Skittled: Angus Martin gets through Aidan Young’s defences after setting him up with a short ball.

Brendan Moyle (24) was the only other Echuca batsman to get going, while star all-rounder Sean Williams shone with the ball for Rochester, snagging figures of 4-29.

Dylan Cuttriss (2-15) and Angus Martin (2-29) added two wickets each for the visiting side, which then looked to respond in its own innings.

After his heroics with the bat, Hinks all but took the game from Rochester with the ball, knocking over Rochy’s entire top six single-handedly to have figures of 6-13 at stumps.

Last week’s two best performers, Williams and Cuttris, both fell for ducks this time around, while no batsman has made it past 10 thus far.

Angus Martin (10 not out) and Matthew Harrington (four not out) must build a significant seventh wicket stand if the visitors have any hope of securing vital points from this game.

Echuca South has things well in hand against Leitchville-Gunbower and would pass Rochester for fourth place should Rochy fail to score in this match.

Echuca would require an outright win to have any chance of improving its ladder position, but with BLU well on top against Nondies-Cohuna, it may require maximum points just to hold on to second.