In a Goulburn Murray Cricket game with huge finals implications, Rochester ended the day at 7-60, still requiring 22 runs to secure first innings points, after the Swans were all out for 81.
Echuca South won the toss and opted to bat first. However, it quickly became clear that conditions were not favourable for batsmen.
The pitch had a few tricks to play and the Rochester bowlers frustrated the Swans with disciplined defensive bowling.
With runs hard to come by, the South batsmen ground their way to 81 off a marathon 52.1 overs.
No batsman managed a strike rate over 30 as the Swans settled in, waiting for the limited scoring opportunities that were presented.
Asantha Singappuli, the league’s leading run-scorer coming into the game, was again the leader for South, soaking up 122 deliveries on his way to a team-high 34.
Rochester bowled 24 maidens in the innings, with Sean Williams having the best figures for the visitors, taking 5-25, while Dylan Cuttris (2-17) and Angus Martin (2-12) also grabbed wickets.
The Rochester reply moved more quickly, but wickets fell at regular intervals, leaving it 21 runs short of the Swans with three wickets in hand at stumps.
Rochester will be hopeful that top run-scorer Williams (15 not out) and captain Cuttriss (0 not out) can steady the ship and grab the 22 runs required for first innings honours when they resume on day two.
Williams has amassed 349 runs over the first 12 rounds as well as taking 16 wickets, becoming an invaluable member of the Rochester side.
Mitchell Stephens (6-25) was the danger man in the Echuca South attack.
His current figures are good for third best by any player this season, and with three wickets still up for grabs on day two, he is well positioned to take the first seven-wicket innings of the competition.
The two sides are separated by just two competition points with a win for Rochester taking it above the Swans and potentially into the finals places.
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