Sport

Bloods fight to the end

By Contributed

Dec 3, 2025

Pete Harrison scored 51 not out in a close fought game against Katunga.

Tocumwal played Katunga at home as part of round seven of the Murray Valley Cricket Association C-grade competition.

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The home side lost the toss once again and were sent in to bat.

Pete Harrison and Brandon Meloury got Tocumwal off to a good start before Meloury (10) fell to a good catch.

Toby Chappell was in next and was scoring at a good rate before being caught for 19.

Shaun Goldman was gone next, falling to a dubious call.

Adam Hughes was in next as Harrison brought up his 50 which had two new batsmen at the crease.

The run rate started to slow as the overs ticked along, and Tocumwal started to lose wickets including Aaron Shepherd (8), Lachlan McDonald (7) and Daniel Bennett (1).

All this before Cam Dickins came to the crease and showed the team how to run between the wickets, including running a three and a four before showing them how not to do it, being run out for 14.

Paul Stevens tried to up the scoring, but had the luck go against him and found himself wearing the duck hat.

Adam Hughes (11 not out) stayed strong in the middle order and Amal Aji (1 not out) was swinging hard as always.

Tocumwal created a great platform to launch from but failed to capitalise, finishing with 144 on the board.

With the ball, the Katunga openers were aggressive from the outset and got off to a great start, putting the game firmly in their favour.

But “cometh the hour cometh the man” as Bennett picked up the crucial first wicket and two more in his next over.

The Katunga opener retired after a good innings, and Kurt Chouffot managed to snag Tocumwal’s fourth wicket right on drinks.

Aji removed the Katunga captain, and Tocumwal could see the game was up for grabs.

The team just had to be excellent with the ball and back the bowlers up in the field.

McDonald then brought himself on to bowl and picked up another wicket.

The game was coming down to the wire with Stevens picking up the seventh wicket, but the home side just couldn’t get over the line, with Katunga bringing up the winning runs in the 32nd over to win by three wickets.

The game showed how much fight Tocumwal have as a team.

The team very well could have put their heads down as the Katunga openers took the game away, but they didn’t give up and the team made them work for everything and very nearly got a result.