Rochester’s dream run in the Goulburn Murray Cricket McMahon Shield has come to an agonising end, with a final-round defeat to Echuca cruelly denying the side a spot in the finals.
Entering the final round on a six-game winning streak that extended back to round eight, Rochester was the competition’s in-form team, occupying fourth place on the ladder with one match to play.
But reigning premier Echuca flexed its muscles at Victoria Park, shooting an ominous warning to the rest of the McMahon Shield finalists by putting on a dominant display to secure an outright 118-run victory and rocket to the top of the ladder.
Allaying any fears after suffering a form slump when it lost three consecutive matches in rounds 10 to 12, Echuca timed its run to perfection, securing the maximum 10 points against Rochy to leapfrog Moama into top spot in the final home and away round.
Rochester was in trouble from the start on day two, resuming at 6-39 after Matthew Hinks had torn through the top order on day one.
It wasn’t long before he struck again, removing Angus Martin (15) and Matthew Harrington (11) to reduce the visiting side to 8-51 and taking Hinks’ figures to 8-17, the best across the entire competition this season.
Rylea Jones (2-30) claimed the final two wickets of Fraser Cleary and Oliver Williams, for ducks, as Echuca romped to the first innings points, bowling Rochester out for 52 to take an 84-run lead into the second dig.
A small collapse at the top of the order, orchestrated by Sean Williams (3-33), had Echuca slump to 3-33 early in its second innings, however, a brilliant 52 not out to Kobyn James, who was supported well by Aidan Young (24 not out), saw Echuca to 4-128 before skipper Simon Maddox declared.
Equipped with a lead of 212 runs, the home side set about securing the maximum points available in ruthless fashion.
Rochester opener Brandon Byrne was run out for a duck after facing one delivery, meaning his side slumped to 1-0.
Rylea Jones continued his good form with the ball to set Rochy even further back in the fourth over, dismissing Adam Ward (6) and captain Dylan Cuttriss (0) in the space of three deliveries as Rochester sank even further to 3-13.
Hinks claimed his ninth wicket for the match to send Sean Williams (11) packing, before Jones had Jesse Cuttriss (0) caught in the next over, with Rochester five down for 28 inside 10 overs.
Matthew Harrington (21) and Jake Wright (21 not out) provided good fight down the order for Rochy, however, the might of Echuca proved too strong as Charlie Hinks (2-23) and Maddox (2-15) joined the party to clean up the tail, ending Rochester’s innings for 94.
The strength of the McMahon Shield competition this season means that, despite being arguably the best team across the past two months and winning six matches on the trot, Rochester still finished two points adrift of fourth, bringing an early end to its season.
Echuca’s last-minute ascension to top spot following the outright win sets up a mouth-watering cross-town semi-final clash against Echuca South, after the Swans secured fourth spot with a win over Leitchville-Gunbower.
Meanwhile, the other semi-final will be contested between Moama and Bamawm-Lockington United, two sides separated only by percentage.
Moama pulled hosting rights thanks to a thrashing of Kyabram Fire Brigade in the final round, cracking a combined total of 452 runs over two innings to the Flames’ 89.
Elsewhere, BLU successfully defended 4-248 against Nondies Cohuna to hook third spot, while Cooma stole bragging rights over Tongala in a pride battle, prevailing by 59 runs.