For the Tocumwal Bloods’ A-grade side, there couldn’t be a closer call than their razor’s edge victory over Barooga at the weekend.
Bloods coach Malcolm Hart said the atmosphere in the visitors’ shed afterwards was electric.
“We had an opening stand between Peter Harrison and Liam Sutton, and they put on 42,” Hart said.
“That was quite significant to get us off to a solid start.”
He said his side — consisting of many young players — was in a similar position to Barooga.
“The major thing that we’ve talked about for another year with these young boys is... build innings,” he said.
“And that’s what we actually did on Saturday. Hopefully, we do more of that [against Deniliquin].
“While the fours and boundaries are sexy, they’re not what win you games.”
He mentioned several of the Bloods’ line-up who came to the fore on the day.
“Liam Sutton, he bowled to the death,” he said.
“He had a great game.
“Our captain Reilly [Rennick] batted real well. When Cooper Harris joined him they got us through 100 and got us through close.
“You’ve got to give [Barooga] a bit of credit because they made a decent score,” Hart said.
Under a blue sky, the Barooga home side got the match under way with the bat after winning the toss.
Coming off the back of their victory over Berrigan last weekend, Barooga were looking to add to their momentum and notch another win to their belts.
And, for some time, it appeared the home side would do just that.
English import Zach Dunn took 37 to bring the home side to 5-71 before being sent to the sheds by the Bloods’ Liam Sutton.
Barooga coach-captain Brendan Lewis then showed his credentials as a maverick batsman, claiming 78 runs not-out for the home side.
For the visitors, vice-captain Andrew Arthur brought his artillery to the bowling end, sending Crue Lucas and Jonathon Oliver packing and going on to take two maidens from nine overs.
But when it came time for the visitors to take to the crease, the Bloods had their fair share of work to do.
Coming from behind to catch Barooga’s 190 runs from 45 overs was no small task for the visitors.
Peter Harrison and Liam Sutton opened at the top of the order for Tocumwal, with Harrison taking his side to a generous 1-42.
The Bloods’ objective was made no easier, with Barooga’s Lewis helping the home side along with two wickets and one maiden.
Lachlan Sutton also cleaned up in the bowling with a neat five wickets and four maidens from nine for Barooga.
Reilly Rennick showed his mettle as a batsman after bringing the Bloods to 6-177.
But it was Sam Bennett who took his side to 9-187 at the bottom of the order before vice-captain Andrew Arthur stepped up to the crease to tip the visitors over the line with four runs not-out.
The final tally saw Barooga, 5-190, fall just shy of the Bloods’ 9/191.
In B-Grade, Barooga, 6-57, put last week’s upset to Cobram behind them as they came out on top of a visiting Finley side, 10-56.
Kohen Haddrell for the home side tucked away a tidy four wickets and three maidens from five.