The Rochester Primary School boys’ team went close to being the state cricket champions for 2023, finishing fourth at the state finals in Melbourne last Friday.
The team consisted of Asher Rasmussen, Harry Rasmussen, Judd Cuttriss, Mason Mundie, Hugh Acocks, Corey Hoog, Walt James and Wil Hayler.
Beating Kyabram’s St Augustine’s in the zone grand final and Echuca 208 at the regional level qualified the boys for the state finals in Melbourne — an incredible achievement.
The first game in the big dance saw the team come up against Lucknow Primary School, a school of 650 students from Bairnsdale.
The boys lost the toss and were sent in to bat, with conditions looking a little wet. The boys adjusted well and were able to put the bad balls away, ending their eight overs with a score of 2-117.
The fielding and bowling of the team was exceptional. The boys attacked the stumps with the ball, held their catches and pulled off some incredible direct-hit run-outs. This resulted in a comfortable 35-run win.
The second game was against Kingsville, a school of over 500 students in the west of Greater Melbourne.
This time, the team won the toss and bowled first. The boys got off to an incredible start. With Asher, Corey, Judd and Walt bowling the first four overs, Kingsville was reduced to 4-14.
The boys continued to bowl and field well, restricting Kingsville to 6-79, a gettable target.
The boys constructed their run chase really well and never looked in any trouble. The boys enjoyed themselves and cruised to the target, making 5-130.
The third game for the day saw the boys play against the undefeated Mount View Primary School, a school from Mount Waverley that has over 1000 students.
Rochester Primary won the toss and elected to bat. After a good start, the team lost a clump of wickets through run-outs and lost its way through the middle.
The boys rallied at the end of the innings and scrambled to 8-117. To defend this, the boys would have to bowl really well.
The first two overs went perfectly and Mount View was 2-8. With brilliant fielding and smart bowling, the boys were able to take it to the final over, with Mount View needing 15 runs.
In a thrilling end to the game, Mount View won by five runs. The Rochy boys were devastated, knowing how far they had come and how close they got to playing in the state final.
With the loss, the boys then played off for third spot. The boys were clearly flat after the previous game and weren’t able to put anywhere near their best cricket together in the final.
Despite late-order hitting and crafty bowling at the end of the innings, the boys were not quite good enough to finish with a win.
The support the kids had at the ground was incredible, and the boys loved the experience.
Thanks to all the parents, supporters, brothers and sisters who went to cheer the boys on for the day; you made the day extra special.
For a school of just over 170 children to finish as the fourth-best cricket team in the state is an incredible effort.