Byrne on fire as Rochester rolls Cooma

By Alexander Dabb

Jan 15, 2024

Salute the crowd: Brandon Byrne raises the bat after passing 50, eventually dismissed just shy of a century on 94. Photos: Bruce Povey

Rochester’s sensational form in the McMahon Shield has continued against Cooma, earning a 57-run win at the weekend to edge ever closer to a top-four position.

Playing at Windridge Oval, Rochester won the toss and elected to bat first on its home deck, with Brandon Byrne and Sean Williams striding out to the middle to face the first over.

Safe hands: Youngster Judd Cuttriss holds on to the catch to dismiss Cooma’s Liam Scopelliti.

It wasn’t be long before Williams (3) headed back to the pavilion, however, as Hugo Bell struck to remove the Rochy batsman, before claiming the scalp of Oliver Williams shortly after for a duck, reducing the home side to 2-18 early in the piece.

Byrne remained steadfast at the top though, working well alongside Matthew Harrington (12) and Angus Martin (11) to continue to advance his side’s score, although it was with Jesse Cuttriss that he was able to forge the most prolific partnership of the innings.

Like father like son: Rochester captain Dylan Cuttriss embraces son Judd after the catch that dismissed Liam Scopelliti.

The duo put on 66 for the fifth wicket to take Rochester past 100, Cuttriss contributing 23 before his dismissal left his side at 5-147, as Byrne batted on into the 90s.

But there would be no century for the opener who was denied by Bell (3-46) on 94, his magnificent knock paving the way for Rochester to set up a more-than-competitive total.

Skipper Dylan Cuttriss (21 not out) and Fraser Cleary (20 not out) wrapped up the innings for the home side, steering Rochester to a total of 7-205, with Bell the pick of the Cooma bowlers, although Jack Norris also impressed with 2-35.

Get around him: Rochester players congratulate Cale James (centre) after he took his first senior wicket.

The Cooma chase suffered an immediate setback at the hands of captain Cuttriss, who sent both openers Mason Scopelliti (3) and Kade Hipwell (0) packing to have the visitors in a precarious position at 2-14.

Sean Williams joined the party by snaring the wicket of Liam Scopelliti shortly thereafter, with the Rochester side in raptures not only due to the wicket, but because of the fielder who claimed the catch.

Young Judd Cuttriss, who recently represented the GMC in the under-13 side at junior country week, stood underneath the ball, and was embraced by his father Dylan and the entire squad after he clung on to dismiss the Cooma number three.

Rochester soon had the visitors four down after English import Matthew Darvill (10) was trapped LBW by Angus Martin, but Cooma would hit back through skipper Jake Kelly and Robert Trewin.

High fives: Rochester celebrate after the dismissal of Mason Scopelliti.

The pair carved out a 66-run stand to bring their side back into the contest, with Trewin smacking a brilliant 51 before they were both dismissed, seeing Cooma tumble from 4-108 to 6-110.

Ethan Palma-Ludeman made an important 17 to ensure his side kept ticking along, although his resistance was eventually ended by senior debutant Cale James (1-11).

In the air: Rochester skipper Dylan Cuttriss plays a shot in the air through the leg side.

Brandon Byrne reprised his heroics with the bat to claim 3-14 with the ball, wrapping up the rest of the tail fairly quickly to ensure yet another Rochester win.

The victory moves Rochester to within half a game of the top four, still in sixth but just two points behind Echuca South in fourth with just three rounds left to play.