Late Rochy rally falls short

Rochester would then remove six South batters for 19 runs, leaving the game on a knife’s edge, the Swans requiring five for victory, but with only a single wicket in hand.

Number 11 Brenden Olivier proved the unlikely hero, coming to the crease and immediately belting consecutive fours to save the points for his side after an almighty middle order collapse.

Brandon Byrne’s 3-18 was Rochester’s best bowling performance, while Sean Williams and Angus Martin took two each.

Earlier, Rochester set the middling target thanks to the same pairing of Williams and Martin.

Having proved its depth in recent weeks, the Rochester batting line-up mostly failed to fire at Echuca South Recreation Reserve.

Williams entered early, the first wicket falling after only two runs, and showed purpose, going just short of a run-a-ball for his 45.

The middle order looked to accumulate, but couldn’t convert decent starts into big scores.

Martin did his best to hold down his end, finishing 36 not out from 65 deliveries, running out of partners in the penultimate over.

The South bowling effort was led by AK Gunathilaka, who posted an impressive 4-22, while Asantha Singappuli was a tad expensive, but lethal in his 3-46.

The result solidifies the rift between the top three, Moama, Bamawm-Lockington United and South, and the rest of the league.

The Swans and Lions hold a two-game edge over Kyabram Fire Brigade and Rochester, while unbeaten Moama streams even further ahead.

Rochester could have closed that gap and overtaken Fire Brigade for the fourth finals place heading into Christmas, as the Flames sat out with the bye, but Rochy will have to settle for fifth for a few more weeks.

The Swans return to action on January 10, taking on Leitchville-Gunbower at Gunbower, while Rochester needs to pick up points against lower-ranked Tongala when it visits the Blues after the resumption.