Rochy returns with crushing Blues victory

Batting first after being sent in Rochester leant on two big innings from veteran players.

Tim Bubb got the side off to a solid start alongside Jake Wright, the pair adding 32 for the first wicket before Wright departed for 16.

The dangerous Sean Williams only added 14 on this occasion before he too was sent to the sheds and, when Cale James went for 5, it looked like Tongala might be starting to gain ascendancy at 3-60.

The reliable Bubb was then joined by Dylan Cuttriss in the middle and the pair’s massive 161-run stand righted the Rochester innings.

Cuttriss motored along at about a run a ball, while Bubb was a little more measured, but the duo worked well at the crease to build a significant total.

Both men raised the bat for half-centuries and tons were beckoning, but Mackenzie Cowley finally made the breakthrough for Tonny, removing Bubb for 75.

It started a small momentum swing for the Blues, as Ryley Cowley snagged two wickets in as many balls shortly after, Rochy losing 3-1.

Cuttriss remained steadfast and looked to accelerate late with a century still on the horizon.

Needing six from the final over to notch his ton, Cuttriss made five from the first five balls but was cruelly denied the milestone, run out with the final delivery of the innings searching for a century confirming single.

He finished on 99 from as many balls as Rochester posted a competitive 7-248 from its 50 overs.

Ryley Cowley’s double strike in the middle overs earned him best figures for Tonny (2-46), while Lachlan and Mitchell Caldwell, Jesse Jackman and Mackenzie Cowley each took one.

Batting has historically been a point of weakness for Tongala and that proved to be the case again as the Blues fell well short of Rochy’s total.

Only three men, Ryan Smith, Mitchell Cornwall (both 10) and Jackman (12), reached double figures,, extras running away with the best score of the innings (24).

Wickets fell quickly early on as the Blues declined to 5-12 and, though some of the lower order showed resilience, Tongala was rolled for 74 runs.

Myles Wade led the way for Rochester’s bowlers with 4-15, while the other used bowlers, Sean Williams, Cale James and Judd Cuttriss, took two each.

The Tongala bats appeared to be all edge early on, keeper Oliver Williams grabbing four catches behind the stumps.

With Fire Brigade falling at the weekend, Rochester claims outright fourth spot on the table, only trailing Bamawm-Lockington United by a win, although the Lions do have a game in hand.

Rochy will host the Lions on Saturday in a massive game for both clubs.

Meanwhile, Tongala is all but out of the finals race with a 3-8 record heading into an away clash with unbeaten leader Moama.