In a clash between two sides with ladder-climbing on their minds in the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield, these teams were perhaps an ideal match.
Tatura and Shepparton United each harboured ambitions of more than what they ultimately settled for in season 2023-24 and felt slightly more bullish this time around courtesy of a handy acquisition or two.
Meeting one another in the opening round, by that token, felt entirely appropriate.
The home side at Howley Oval on Saturday elected to send in the visitors and, in doing so, came up against a top order which presented its fair share of threat on paper.
Skipper Jayden Armstrong made the pivotal first breakthrough in removing Ben Greenwood for 10, but, although United was never scoring at a breakneck pace, patience was required from the bowling attack.
Eventually Jake Callow’s dogged opening display came to an end on 30 before highly-touted recruit Seb Menzhausen was trapped LBW on 14.
Ebbs and flows ticked along throughout the innings, with reigning Lightfoot medallist Rehan Bari steering United on the right path as reliably as ever with a 42-run partnership for the sixth wicket alongside captain Sam Nash.
It’s safe to say Tom Vibert’s removal of the competition’s batting benchmark changed the complexion of things a fair bit, though.
Vibert’s four-over cameo was nothing short of immense, skittling the bottom order like bowling pins en route to brilliant figures of 4-4 as Tatura’s victory target was set at 145.
Matthew West took it upon himself to hold the early command, jumping United’s openers with an explosive stanza that yielded 45 with seven boundaries.
After Daniel Coombs was back in the sheds with a six-ball duck to his name, it was a 78-run stand involving West and half-centurion Blake Armstrong (52, five fours, two sixes) which completely took the game away from the Combine.
The hosts did have to overcome a seriously valiant defensive display from Greenwood, though, who more than redeemed his brief batting appearance.
He was in on seemingly everything, claiming two poles with the ball in addition to a run out while credited with a catch in the field, though his efforts were ultimately in vain.
Jayden Armstrong picked up where those power hitters left off, quickly driving his side home to a five-wicket victory in a near-identical final scoreline to the clash between Old Students and Central Park-St Brendan’s.
THE GAME
Tatura 5-146 (Blake Armstrong 51, Matthew West 45, Ben Greenwood 2-30) d Shepparton United 144 (Rehan Bari 34, Jake Callow 30, Tom Vibert 4-4, Mathew Macansh 3-24
STAR PLAYER
Tom Vibert (Tatura): Four overs was all it took for Vibert to swing the outcome of the game like nobody else in a breathtaking display of lower-order destruction. Claiming the vital scalp of Bari gave way to a United collapse, with Vibert at the forefront in setting a comfortable victory target.
The rain spattered at Tatura, but thankfully mere moments separated the heavens from opening from this affair closing, and Coombs says his side has more in store.
“I think we’ve got a really good squad this year,” Coombs said.
“We’ve developed over the last couple of years as a team and I think we’re ready to really give it a crack.
“We scored at pretty much a run a ball and we’ll definitely be a bit more attacking this year, giving it a go in the first 20 overs.
“We bat to 11 this year, so we’ve probably got a bit of licence to bat more aggressively.”
It’s a remarkable string of fixtures upcoming for Tatura, with a pair of cellar-dwellers from last season in Euroa and Karramomus either side of newcomer Pine Lodge in the next three weeks.
There’s no such thing as a guarantee, though, and Coombs will make sure his side is fully aware of it.
“Every game is a massive game,” Coombs said.
“We wanted to get the ball rolling from the first game and show people how we can play. I just want to see us consistent each week.
“Everyone knows their game style and I think you just have to be confident in the way you play.
“Sometimes in games, you have to sit in and be patient, but other times you can get more aggressive. When we’ve got the momentum with us we’re making a big emphasis of putting pressure on.
“They got a start, but we really pulled them back in.”