Shepparton Youth Club United keeps pace at Goulburn Murray Cricket women’s summit

In the Cats’ absence during Sunday’s match day, Shepparton Youth Club United flew the local flag alone in dealing with an imposing Moama side.

There were no sure things when these sides met at Princess Park, especially after Moama announced itself with a downright scary display in skittling Kyabram for all of 10 runs in its first outing for the season.

It was predictably tight-fisted virtually all the way through as the hosts put the first score on the board, with Mel Saunders carrying on her typically inspired form on offence.

Moama had to work around her for a large chunk of the innings before skipper Olivia Davy eventually had Saunders’ number, the home side in a solid enough position at 4-59.

From there, though, momentum shifted towards the black and white in claiming four ducks, three coming after the dismissal of Saunders, eventually bowling the combine out for 94.

In response, Olivia Davy again featured as an opener, but, while she saw out her 30 balls to retire not out, her scoreboard impact was limited.

Some wayward bowling played more of a role in making this a serious nail-biter, with 27 wides registered.

Nonetheless, the runs ticked along and Phoebe Hawker eventually found herself playing a vital role in halting Moama’s momentum, claiming team-best figures of 3-16 with some huge late-innings breakthroughs.

Saunders was good value for her four overs as well, a difference-maker on both sides of the game with 1-9 as Moama’s time ran out six runs short.

Captain Lia Beecroft hailed her side’s mettle to hold off a tough challenger.

“It’s been a positive start to the season after we lost a few players at the end of last season,” Beecroft said.

“The girls played really well on the weekend and a few performed quite well with the bat.

“We knew it was going to be a close game. We had played against some of these girls in previous seasons with the old Echuca side, so knowing what to expect helped us a bit.

“It could have really gone either way towards the end, but we had our experienced bowlers there to really put the screws down.”

One of those prominent bowlers was among the less experienced of all in Hawker, who remains a top prospect within the female cricketing scene.

“Phoebe’s still so young, but she’s performed really well with bat and ball,” Beecroft said.

“It’s going to be really exciting to see where she goes in the future.

“She’s got a really good cricketing head on her shoulders and she’s been a good pick up for us.”

With Mooroopna out of action, Echuca had the chance to become the only other 3-0 team at home to a Kyabram side which desperately needed to rebound from the previous week’s hiding.

Maisy Byrne and captain Jessica Cox brought the gun show and let the sparks fly with a combined 81 unbeaten and, in a strange statistical anomaly, seven Redbacks finished with exactly one run as Echuca cruised to a 61-run win.

Elsewhere, Nagambie was able to notch its first win of the season — and what a way to go about it.

On the road to face Cooma, Lakers bowlers claimed an almighty four golden ducks among seven overall in sending the hosts packing for 59 before Kayla Shepherd and Amber Langham chased the total down by themselves in five overs.

Rochester was able to stay unbeaten and consign Katamatite to a third consecutive defeat despite the monumental efforts of Sophie Stanley, who did all she could to keep the Tigers’ 73 defendable with a haul of 4-14.

Finally, Bamawm-Lockington United got on the board in a heart-stopper that came down to the last couple of balls, escaping over the top of Nathalia by five wickets.