The Eastern Hill Cricket Club began life in the Gisborne District Cricket Association Johnstone Shield with a two-wicket loss against Wallan.
Previously members of the Seymour District Cricket Association, the Eagles faced a tough test in their GDCA debut at Greenhill Reserve with Wallan last season's runner-up.
Winning the toss and electing to bat was a baptism of fire for openers Jake Wright and Brayden Speechley, who were dismissed for four runs.
Wright knicked one off Steve Bell's bowling to wicket-keeper Spencer Whittingham, with Speechley being dismissed in similar circumstances by Wallan captain Bryan Vance.
Benjamin Bryant and captain Seamus Feery steadied the ship for the Eagles before Bryant exited on 36, having chipped one to the waiting hands of mid-on Campbell Fowler off Hamish Mullavey-Clark's bowling.
One of the worst moments you can have in cricket, whether you are a park cricketer or Steve Smith, followed shortly after.
At 4-81, Ferry attempted a sweep shot off Mullavey-Clark, which ricocheted off his bat on to his pads.
Sensing the opportunity for a quick single, new batsman Matthew Collard sprinted up the wicket in a move that clearly surprised Feery.
In a battle between Feery’s legs and Spencer Whittingham’s arms, it was the Wallan wicket-keeper's arm that took the win as Feery was caught short off his ground as Mullavey-Clark took off the bails to end the captain’s innings on 27.
With Ollie Bryant dismissed soon after for four, the Eagles, now sitting at 5-92 after 28 overs, were looking down the barrel of an opening-day demolition.
Unabowed by the chaos of Ferry’s run out, Collard began smacking Wallan’s bowling to all corners of Greenhill Reserve.
In his 71-run, 65-ball innings, he hit five boundaries and two sixes to lift the Eagles to 6-182 before he was trapped lbw by Joshua Mullavey-Clark.
Rory Kennedy hit a quickfire 33 runs off 30 balls to lead the Eagles to 6-188 off their 40 overs.
Wallan’s innings began with a stumble when Tim Rudd-Schmidt clean-bowled opener Matthew Clayton for two.
The stumble risked turning into a freefall as Spencer Whittingham, for 19, Bryan Vance (7) and Hamish Mullavey-Clark (4) departed early in the innings, leaving Wallan 4-34 after 10 overs.
Ryan Cumberland and Jake Misfud finally put Wallan back on the right track with a 74-run partnership, which ended when Misfud mistimed a sweep shot off the bowling of Jake Wright, which sailed into the waiting hands of Tim Rudd-Schmidt.
Beau Fowler and Zac Bell then fell quickly as the Eagles fought their way back into the match, leaving Wallan 7-135 after 30 overs.
Cumberland continued to shine despite the wickets, hitting 66 runs off 61 balls in an innings that included eight fours and a six.
Joshua Mullavey-Clark and Campbell Fowler then held their nerves to put together a 25-run 10th-wicket partnership, as Wallan took the wicket with three balls left.
The Eagles’ next game is at home against Diggers Rest Bulla Village, while Wallan travels to Woodlea Reserve to face Aintree.
In the seconds, Wallan won by four wickets against the Eagles despite a four-wicket haul by Riley Graham.