Redbacks put bite on Dogs

It wasn’t a good day across the competition for away sides — or sides electing to bat first — and Tatura, for all its good recent form, would fall victim on both ends.

It has been a frustrating pair of Saturdays for import opener Matthew West, who was run out on the day’s second ball, but coach Daniel Coombs inserted himself at three and went about continuing his ascenion up the batting ranks.

Coombs endured a lukewarm start to the season even as Tatura fired up, but has now produced a pair of major clutch displays with back-to-back bat-raises when his side needed him.

The only issue as Coombs steadily compiled his innings was that the rest of the visitor’s middle order largely dropped with barely a whimper, with his side languishing at 5-37 in a particularly grim spot.

Shafiqullah Maroofkhel was a particularly powerful force in what looked like a debilitating innings at one stage, going on to claim four wickets in his strongest spell since beginning his stint in A-grade.

Eventually, Tatura fell for 137 and, given Kyabram’s usually iron-fisted scoreboard impact, some would have presumed it foregone already.

Billy McLay and Paul Parsons would make a workmanlike start to the chase, knowing that with only three runs an over needed, there was no particular rush.

Though Parsons would fall first, trapped in front by Blake Armstrong, Alec Young proved a more than capable replacement.

Kyabram coach Jackson McLay had spoken in recent times about his desire for the bats surrounding star man Kyle Mueller to collectively lift, and he was certainly getting his wish as the Redbacks surged to 1-88 without him.

Even after Billy’s dismissal off Jayden Armstrong on that tally, bringing Mueller himself to the crease only served to further frighten Tatura.

That was, until he was removed for three off the bowling of Lachlan Magee.

Given Kyabram’s ace was moved aside with staggering ease, the additional wicket of Young on a run out minutes later would have had some red and black faithful holding their breath somewhat.

That was the extent of Tatura’s joy, though, as Cade Mueller stole the spotlight with a rip-and-tear 35 (six fours, one six) to steer the Redbacks back on track and over the finish line with more than a third of their overs in hand.

In fulfilling the task of that top-of-the-table clash, the Redbacks adjoin with Central Park-St Brendan’s at the summit of Haisman ranks heading into the new year.

The Redbacks have conquered just about all in their path since a round one setback at Nagambie’s hands, while Tatura sits on a harsh reality check heading into an equally tough 2025 opener against the Tigers.