But he was certainly not alone as several familiar stars from the winter continued their sporting exploits with different equipment at Rochester’s Moon Oval.
Backway scored an unbeaten half century to open the Kyabram Fire Brigade Red season in the Under-17 GMC competition, leading his team to 4-175 from 40 overs against Rochester.
He struck two boundaries in his 50-run total before retiring. He kicked 11 goals in the first three rounds of the football season this year and several of his teammates from that team also featured prominently on Friday evening in the two-day match opener to the 2024-25 season.
Opener Oscar Carver (21 off 37 deliveries), Jedd Turpin (not out 23 from 20 balls), Riley Carver (26 off 27 deliveries, with three boundaries), and Wil Harrison (27 from 56 deliveries) were all teammates of Backway in Kyabram’s GMJL Under-16 team.
In the other game - there are only five teams in the Under-17 competition - Bamawm-Lockington United was bowled out for 79 in 27 overs by Echuca. Moama had the bye
– Lower-order Tongala batter Bryce Kay produced the highlight of the opening round of the GMC Under-15 season on Thursday afternoon.
Kay smashed five boundaries and two sixes in his unbeaten 38 (from just 33 deliveries) at Brose Recreation Reserve against last year’s grand finalist Moama.
Tongala finished with 8-108, but had to recover from an early onslaught when three of its top order batters were removed without scoring.
A rearguard action started when Angus Greenman (13 runs in a 65-delivery stay at the crease), Jordan Reid (retired 19 from 40 deliveries) and Kay turned the innings on its head.
Tongala lost its fifth wicket early in the sixth over with just 15 runs on the board. Kay arrived at the crease in the 16th over and took 14 runs from the 18th
Seven teams will contest the Under-15 competition, with Lockington-Gunbower, Nondies-Cohuna, Rochester, Kyabram Fire Brigade and Moama the other teams
– This year’s Wednesday evening GMC Under-13 age group, which like all other grades is supported by Community Bank Tongala and Mathoura, will feature two separate competitions.
Six teams will contest the Goulburn division, featuring Kyabram Fire Brigade to the east and Bamawn-Lockington United to the west. Also involved are two Moama teams, a Rochester team and another from Echuca.
The seven-team Murray competition will feature Tongala, Stanhope, Leitchville-Gunbower, a new Rushworth team, Echuca South, Rochester and an Echuca team.
Moama won the single 11-team division last year by beating Kyabram Redbacks by 11 runs in the grand final.
– Nine teams from seven clubs will contest the GMC’s Under-11 competition, starting on Friday night when two of the three Moama teams will face off and Stanhope will debut at the level.
Tongala’s mixed team will face Rochester and Stanhope will meet the usually strong Kyabram Fire Brigade team in its first outing.
The Under-11 competition operates without the distribution of premiership points and with different rules around dismissals, time spent at the crease and over allocation.
Each player is given a restricted amount of deliveries from which to score without the fear of dismissal, while bowlers can deliver up to three overs under the modified rules.
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