Tonny bested by 2024-25 runner-up

While Tongala’s openers, Stephen Townsend and Lachlan Caldwell, were able to navigate Sean Williams’ and Angus Martin’s opening spells, it wasn’t long before something had to give, as Townsend (8) found the safe hands of Dylan Cuttriss off Martin in the eighth over.

Caldwell (7) departed two overs later, with Brandon Byrne getting in on the action as Rochester found itself on top early.

Darin Ohlsen was at the crease for a short period but managed to get Tongala moving, adding 17 to the total before succumbing to a Cale James delivery.

Ryan Smith and Jayden Tucker managed to bat 17 overs together and proved to be a stabilising force, putting on a 50-run partnership for Tongala with Tucker top-scoring with 40.

Smith (26) was Alice Caldow’s first scalp of four for the day as her delivery found the safe hands of Myles Wade.

Caldow continued her purple patch with the ball towards the back-end of the innings, getting the wickets of Mitch Cornwall (4), Adam Nunn (2) and Kade Northausen (5).

A Sean Williams peach and a slick run out by Brandon Byrne and Oliver Williams closed the innings, with Rochester requiring 164 for victory.

Sean Williams and Byrne set the chase up well for the host, putting on 50 runs between them until the former sent a ball flying into the hands of Nunn off Cornwall’s bowling for 30.

The same thing happened to fellow opener Byrne two overs later, with Nunn and Cornwall combining once again to dismiss him for 30.

Tim Bubb and Dylan Cuttriss toiled away, putting on 42 between the two of them before the latter was clean bowled for 18.

Bubb (31) was the last wicket to fall for Rochester, as Oliver Williams (32 not out) and Jake Wright (23 not out) steered their side to a six-wicket win with the better part of 12 overs to play.

Following the loss, Tongala will have a prime opportunity to open its account in round two, hosting last season’s wooden spooner, Nondies-Cohuna, at Tongala Recreation Reserve.