RSL have claimed a “ripping” first up win over defending premiers Nyah District Cricket Club (NDCC) in a 30 over demolition job of the red and whites.
The grand final rematch opened the Swan Hill and District Cricket Association’s (SHDCA) 2016-17 season with the champions able to find 144 runs in their first innings of the year, despite five batsman being kept under 10 run totals.
The bowling attack was spread across the park for RSL, with Jack Cook stealing the show, taking 3-16 — which included one maiden over.
RSL captain Ryan Hinton was happy with his side’s performance, and even he was surprised with the top form his club showed on day one of competition.
“It was a ripping start, it was exactly the way we wanted to go in and play,” he said.
“We bowled, fielded well, especially for a first up game — we didn’t show much sign of rust.
“We held onto our chances, they didn’t keep their bowling tight and it gave us pretty easy chances to score… I really didn’t know what to expect, we were concentrating on what we were doing and not thinking about them too much.
“We dropped a chance late in the match which would have meant we bowled them out, but to end up restricting them was great.”
RSL lost the toss and NDCC decided they would take the bat up to kick start their campaign for back to back titles.
Andrew Robertson and Shane Fleming opened with the willow for the champions at North Park.
The premiers were sitting on 11 runs when the Cook duo broke through, with a good ball from Cameron finding Jack in the outfield for a catch, the first wicket of the season falling.
NDCC’s Fleming dug his heels in, facing an onslaught of balls from the strong RSL line-up, continuously notching up runs.
Third man in Jacob Lister faced 26 balls but could only muster two runs before being stumped by Stuart Patterson with his side on 20 runs.
An LBW got Fleming out eventually, after 68 balls faced, with his tail between his legs as his side looked in trouble on 57 runs.
Bat number four, Kobe Lloyd, steadied the ship with 39 runs — his side’s best — but their 40 overs would end with a total of 9-144.
When the RSL openers, Patterson and Tom McGregor, hit the middle, they would prove to be tireless with only four hitters called upon.
Patterson would notch up 22 runs before being felled by NDCC’s Lloyd with his side on 48 runs in total, but it would be a long time between drinks before the next wicket.
Caldwell would help himself to a half century, notching up 56 runs before being caught out, while Hinton came in to pick up the pieces, finishing the day not out with 12 runs.
Extras were an issue for the NDCC, with 21 runs handed to RSL, who chased down the total in 30.4 overs.
Over at Ken Harrison Reserve, St Mary’s Tyntynder kicked off their campaign with a solid first up win.
They lasted the distance, racking up 8-182 across their 40 overs.
Swan Hill chased hard but fell with 8-153 after the final ball.
Ultima TUF lasted the 40 overs at Woorinen Recreation Reserve, making 7-95, but the Tigers were able to chase the total down in 32 overs, winning their first clash of the year with 6-96.
