Heading into round 12 in sixth spot on a tightly contested McMahon Shield ladder and coming up against an undefeated Moama outfit, Rochester would have been at long odds to cause an upset.
Playing on its home deck at Windridge Oval, Rochester had put itself in a strong position at stumps on day one, but a gritty fightback with the bat on day two after an early falter saw the side emerge victorious, and in doing so truly announcing itself as a finals contender.
Brandon Byrne and Joel Bunce resumed the Rochester innings at 1-15 with the side still trailing by 144 runs, but it was quickly reduced to 2-17 as Byrne fell victim to Anthony McMahon, trapped in front for four.
McMahon, and Moama as a whole, came tearing out of the blocks, with the seamer soon adding Matthew Harrington (0) to his list of scalps, while Matt Saunders (1-21) removed Bunce (14) to leave Rochester teetering precariously at 4-39, still 120 in arrears.
Sean Williams and Adam Ward found themselves together at the crease and very patiently allowed themselves to become set, ticking over the scoreboard and slowly accumulating the runs required.
The partnership reached 63 before Moama found the breakthrough, with Ward caught behind off the bowling of Billy Gallagher, having hit five boundaries and a maximum to help Rochy to 5-102.
But Williams remained at the crease, joined by Jesse Cuttriss, and continued to plod along, frustrating the Moama attack with his slow and steady approach.
The pair added 21 together before Cuttriss (9) was sent packing by McMahon, leaving Rochester on 6-123 runs with the tail now exposed.
However, skipper Dylan Cuttriss brought experience to the middle and, run by run, he and Williams ticked off the remainder of the total required, dragging the team total to 151 before Cuttriss was bowled by Archie Teasdale (1-17).
With victory in sight, Williams’ long vigil in the middle finally came to an end, holing out on 58 from an unbelievable 136 deliveries off the bowling of McMahon, just three runs shy of being at the crease when the winning runs were hit.
Nonetheless, his incredible innings was vital in the Rochester win, weathering a turbulent period before his enduring fightback ultimately saved the game for his side.
Angus Martin (5 not out) and Fraser Cleary (4 not out) safely saw off the final few runs, meaning Rochester not only handed Moama its first loss for the season, but ensured it remained well and truly in the hunt for a finals berth.
Moama still holds an eight-point lead at the top of the table and will look to regroup ahead of the final two rounds of the home-and-away season.
The Game
Moama 159 (Fraser Buchanan 54, Jack Russell 50, Angus Martin 4-27) lost to Rochester 8-161 (Sean Williams 58, Adam Ward 41, Anthony McMahon 4-38)