On Saturday, Tocumwal’s A-grade cricket side made the trip to Nathalia and were sent in to bat.
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On a tricky wicket with variable bounce, the team were in early trouble, losing 3/10.
Reilly Rennick and Andrew Lean tried to rebuild, managing to face out one opener.
Unfortunately for Tocumwal, when Rennick fell the team lost another couple of quick wickets, being 5/27.
Bryce Meloury (30) and Lean (18) fought hard, getting the score to 50 batting before a good catch dismissed Lean.
Meloury kept working hard and scoring well, but without any support the team were out for 85.
The pick of the bowlers for Nathalia were Dylan Cunningham (4/22) and Henry Congues (3/6).
Tocumwal needed a good start, and young Lucas Baron got the team off to the perfect start, taking two wickets in his first over.
He was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/18 off his 6 overs.
He was well supported by Lachlan Brennan, who was very unlucky to not get a wicket.
Reilly came on after Lucas and took an early wicket to have Nathalia 4/44.
Tocumwal kept the pressure on, but some good aggressive batting from Nathalia’s Emile Haratbar (81) moved Nathalia past Tocumwal’s score before Rennick (2/70) took his wicket.
Nathalia kept the fast scoring going, with Ash Quinn (45) and Archie Congues (37 not out) helping Nathalia end the day 6/193.
Tocumwal need to get the wickets quickly next week and take the opportunity to bat long on day two.
It was great to see Lucas Baron led the way with the ball, taking his opportunity in A-grade.
Tocumwal’s C-grade travelled to Cobram on Sunday and were sent into the field after losing the toss.
Lachie McDonald and Andy Arthur started strongly to limit the Cobram openers in the first few overs, with Arthur bowling some great lines and finishing with three maidens in a row.
McDonald, from the other end, claimed the first wicket in the fifth over.
Declan Cameron and Paul Stevens replaced the opening bowlers, doing their bit.
Stevens finished with figures of 2/19 and Cameron with 1/11.
Shaun Goldman and Cam Dickins were the team’s next bowlers.
Goldman bowled excellent areas and was unlucky not to pick up a wicket, while at the other end it was the Cam show.
Running through the middle order with sheer pace and hitting great areas, Dickins finishing with 4/13 and very nearly picked up a hattrick.
McDonald came back on to finish off the tail, bowling Cobram out for 79.
This was easily the side’s best performance in the field this season by a long way.
All bowlers found great areas and were strongly backed up by some high energy fielding.
With the bat, Tocumwal were holding down the fort well.
Cobram was bowling really good areas and having a good field set.
Pete Harrison fell for nine after looking good in his first game for the season.
Declan Cameron looked to bring his form from last week to the crease, but was caught behind early.
Goldman (10) came out looking to up the scoring, but also keeping the good balls out before edging one that took a good catch in the slips.
Aaron Shepherd (3) came in aggressively before being caught in the deep.
McDonald (4 not out) and Brandon Meloury (42 not out) brought the team home in the 26th over, winning by six wickets.
It was a fantastic performance by everyone for Tocumwal.
The feeling around the group is at an all time high and will carry that in to next week.
Tocumwal are firmly inside the top four and look to capitalise on this good start and cement themselves as a great side.
In the under-17s, it was Tocumwal’s first two day match at home for the year.
Barooga won the toss and elected to bat.
Lucas Baron got the team’s first wicket in the third over, helping Tocumwal off to a good start.
It was tough going from there on though, with Barooga’s talented batsmen getting on top and playing some great shots.
Lachie Packer got Tocumwal’s next wicket, with Sam Bennett taking the catch.
The third wicket was a run out with a brilliant piece of fielding by Archie Chellew, and Sam Bennett doing the rest with the gloves.
Barooga made it hard for Tocumwal.
Ethan Bovalina was their mainstay with 82, out to a Declan Cameron ball and a great catch by Tom White.
Ollie East and Max Thornburn each got a wicket.
It was a tough night for the team, with Barooga finishing on 5-232 off 40 overs.
The team will have learned a lot from this innings, and this week it is their turn with the bat on their home deck.
Both sides will be looking to put on a good show.