Streak over for Rochy as Moama take down leaders

By Matthew Kappos

Nov 18, 2024

It wasn’t Rochester’s day in the McMahon Shield on Saturday, suffering its first loss of the season at the hands of Moama. Brandon Byrne made a gritty 30 but Rochy was unable to defend its total. Photo: Bruce Povey.

There are no undefeated sides in the McMahon Shield after Saturday’s action, Rochester the last domino to fall in round six.

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Moama became the first to take down Rochy, defeating the now-former-leaders by five wickets at Moama Recreation Reserve.

Batting first, Rochester was in early trouble when they suffered the early loss of leading run-scorer Sean Williams for no score.

Brandon Byrne and Joel Bunce put together a strong 60-run partnership for the second wicket, progressing the total to 64 before Byrne (30) became the first of what would be several Matt Saunders scalps on the day.

Bunce saw two more partners come and go before he wasn’t able to get hold of a Rishabh Kothari delivery and departed for an innings-best 43, including five fours and two sixes.

Rochester was 5-91 after the loss of Bunce but the remnants of the middle order and the tail couldn’t do much to add to that total, number nine Oliver Williams (11) the only batsman to eclipse double figures in the second half of the innings.

Eventually, Rochy were all-out for 127 having only batted 36 of their allotted 35 overs.

Saunders finished with four wickets (4-31) to lead the Moama attack, while Kothari (2-21) and Michael Hill (2-4) also bowled impressively.

Moama’s chase looked to be in a shambles early after both openers departed cheaply, the home side quickly 2-5.

However, the middle order proved resilient, Fraser Buchanan (31) Anthony McMahon (18) and Saunders (22) each chipping away at the total.

Archie Teasdale joined Saunders at 4-62 and played a pivotal hand, getting his side home with an unbeaten 39 from 46 balls.

Rhys Drennan (10 not-out) partnered Teasdale for the final overs, hitting two boundaries as Moama reached a winning 5-131 in 31.3 overs.

Angus Martin (2-34) was the best of the Rochester bowlers while Myles Wade (1-35) and Jesse Cuttriss (1-29) each took wickets, but the visitor ultimately didn’t have enough to bowl at.

Rochester has now fallen into second behind Echuca, but will have the opportunity to regain the lead as the champion sits out the next fortnight’s two-day fixture.

Moama will face a much-improved Leitchville-Gunbower in an intriguing clash at Gunbower Recreation Reserve, while Rochester is up against Bamawm-Lockington United in Bamawm.

The Game

Rochester 127 (Joel Bunce 43, Matt Saunders 4-31, Michael Hill 2-4) lost to Moama 5-131 (Archie Teasdale 39 not-out, Fraser Buchanan 31, Angus Martin 2-34)