Mooroopna crushes Moama as contenders lose ground in Goulburn Murray women’s cricket

Heading across the border into black and white territory at Moama Recreation Reserve, the Cats predictably elected to set the pace — and what a pace, at that.

With a chunk of unavailability natural at this time of year in a youthful competition, both sides fielded a couple of fill-in players, but a well-established name in Gemma Boyd soon turned some heads.

Mashing them like nobody’s business, Boyd created an impenetrable fortress in the middle of the pitch alongside skipper Lauren Hall, both of whom retired not out for a combined 69.

Moama’s bowlers could find only temporary droplets of relief under the first truly potent sun of the season in removing Amelia Gall on her first delivery, the Cats continuing to cruise and benefit from a few wides in the process.

Kelsey McDonald and Charlie Nicholson calmly steered last year’s runners-up to 2-153 from the allotted overs, but this newfound outfit had already stamped some presence in the competition; at this stage, nothing was decided.

That said, the first 12 overs of Moama’s chase consisted of some of the more stifling bowling you’ll see this season across the competition.

Even without claiming a heap of wickets all at once, Mooroopna remained dizzyingly economical against the top and middle-order bats with Moama still more than 100 runs in arrears at the 14-over mark.

With a bit more licence down the order Beatrix Bray found the boundary a couple of times in a late cameo that restored some pride to the moribund chase before Lucy Di Fede provided some highlights with the Moama tail exposed.

A no-ball and one dot were all that stood in the way of a Di Fede hat-trick in the penultimate over, rolling through almost all that was left of the home side in what eventually proved a simple 64-run win to take back.

Coach Jeff Vandermeer recognised the value of these points with a huge test to come in the next fortnight.

“I watched Moama play last week and they were very impressive, but a good win like that is always handy for us, especially with the couple of games ahead,” Vandermeer said.

“Generally Gemma gets off to a good start and the rest falls into place, not that we want to rely on her every week as we want to have good balance coming after her, and we’re getting that way.

“Her ability to pull the ball 360 degrees and place it all different angles made it very hard to set a field to.

“It’s only Lucy’s second year in cricket, but she’s always willing to learn and listen and put the work in. She’s improved a lot over the last 12 months and that’s what you ask.”

If Mooroopna is to remain the pacesetting outfit to match pre-season expectations, wins over Echuca and Shepparton Youth Club United in the next two rounds are paramount.

The grand final rematch this Saturday serves as an especially enormous measuring stick.

“There wasn’t much between the two last year,” Vandermeer said.

“The girls like playing against the top sides to challenge themselves and Echuca doesn’t give you much.

“They’re a good all-around team and they’ve always been a top side, so hopefully we get a couple back and see how we go.”

The Cats, like most observers, may then have been shocked to discover Echuca had suffered its first defeat of the year on Sunday at Nagambie’s hands.

The best efforts of opener Chloe Moyle could not be matched down the order, with the Lakers riding solid knocks from Kayla Shepherd and Breanna Davison to coast home by seven wickets with more than six overs to spare in a boilover.

Allana Adams was arguably player of the round representing Cooma, as her unbeaten 18 was followed by three handy wickets in a 20-run victory over winless Katamatite.

Courtney Cunningham single-handedly delivered a winning score for Nathalia, her 30 not out eclipsing Rochester’s final total of 23 in a thumping to level the ledger at 2-2.

Meanwhile, Kyabram and Shepparton Youth Club United missed out on a round four fixture due to wicket conditions following watering after the end of the Haisman Shield clash at Kyabram Recreation Reserve a day prior.

The two teams will aim to reschedule the fixture, which could prove vital to the combine’s finishing position.