Round two of the Murray Valley Cricket Association A-grade campaign kicked off on Saturday, October 19, with strong performances from players and teams across the league.
Conditions across the region leant towards the relentless as players competed with gusts of uncooperative wind at Barooga, Berrigan and Nathalia.
In a rematch of last year’s grand final, Cobram A-grade (0-86) proved dominant over rivals Barooga (10-84) at Barooga Recreation Reserve, running away with a 10-wicket win.
Cobram A-grade co-coach Lachie Hyde said the Tigers started better compared to last week’s clash with the Bloods at Cobram Showgrounds.
“We were up and about right from the word go,” he said.
“It’s always a pretty exciting game no matter what.”
It was a tidy performance from Tigers bowler Jeremy Baden, who ended up taking five wickets for the visitors.
“It’s probably a reward for how well he’s been bowling for the last couple of weeks, to be honest. So it was a good thing to see him reward himself with five wickets,” Hyde said.
He also said Hugh Hyde, who captained the Round 2 Cobram side, was beginning to find his feet in A-grade.
“One of the highlights, apart from Jeremy’s five wickets, was seeing [Hugh] bat really well and with confidence,” Hyde said.
Barooga captain and coach Brendan Lewis said his side was looking to the future.
“[John Oliver] batted really well with the bottom half of our batting order. And Lachlan Sutton batted really well, top of the order, as well,” he said.
“We’re building for the future, and that’s what our aim will be for the next couple of years.
“Every club goes through a rebuild, and it’s Barooga’s time.”
Hyde said the side was not going to take this weekend’s date with Nathalia lightly.
“Nathalia’s a side you can’t underestimate. They’ve always got good cricketers,” he said.
“They’ve still kept most of their group from last year. [We] still have to respect them in every fashion — in batting, in bowling.”
Across Saturday’s other matches, rainy conditions on Friday afternoon and evening saw Deniliquin’s clash with Katamatite scrapped due to water on the pitch.
The Berrigan Saints came out on top of the Tocumwal Bloods with 3-137 to the Bloods’ 6-136.
Meanwhile, clear skies at Nathalia saw the home side finish seven wickets clear of Finley CC with 3-90 to Finley’s 10-87.
Gus Frostick made his debut for Nathalia while Brenton Campbell pocketed three wickets and nine runs on the day.
In round one of B-grade cricket, Cobram fell by a margin of eight runs to a tenacious Swans side.
Hunter Hardwidge took 3-7 from his 5.5 overs to rout Katunga for 115. But despite a Bryan Eddy half-century at the top of the chase (53 from 86 deliveries) the Tigers were all-out for 107 in reply.
The Katamatite Tigers claimed victory over Barooga, finishing on 3-93 after rolling Barooga for 92. Meanwhile, the wet weather forced a cancellation of Nathalia’s clash with Finley.
Cobram lost to Nathalia by 14 runs in C-grade action.
It looks set to be a big weekend of A-grade cricket as Cobram takes on Nathalia at Nathalia, Katamatite faces the Bloods at Katamatite, and Barooga meets with Berrigan at home. Elsewhere, the Deniliquin Rhinos are set to face Finley at home.