Romsey is hoping to have kick started its Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup season, claiming first innings points against Rupertswood on day one.
It has been a mixed start to the season for the Redbacks, who find themselves in the unusual position of second bottom after five rounds.
On Saturday, the Redbacks showed some positive signs against Rupo in what proved to be a day for the bowlers.
“We were very happy half way through the day,” said Redbacks captain-coach Ben Way.
“It was a bit tighter than it should have been. We’re happy to get the [first] innings win on the board.
“We’ve been a little bit miss this year. We’ve played a little bit of good cricket and we’ve been a little bit average at other times.”
Rupo won the toss and decided to bat at Romsey Park.
It would prove hard going as it was bowled out for just 65 in the 33rd over.
Rhys Berry top scored with 19 for Rupo.
Aaron Paterson and Louis Moor took three wickets each for the Redbacks.
Way said it wasn’t the easy conditions to bat in as the bowlers got on top.
“You don’t think that the wicket would change too much with it being a hard wicket, but there was a lot of sand on the ground,” he said.
“It might have washed into the pitch and it did a fair bit. It might look like bad batting, but it was good bowling with the help of the surface.
“We did bowl well and it was as good bowling as a group we’ve had for nearly two years I would say.
“We took our chances pretty well.”
The Redbacks batters also struggled to get going but they did enough to have the side at 6-83 at stumps with a lead of 18 on the first innings.
Thomas Boyer is 38 not out having been the only player to really get in.
Way said a score like that when only 140 runs were scored for the day is more valuable than it would be in a normal week.
Berry has three wickets for Rupo.
While the Redbacks have first innings points, Way hinted they may not be satisfied with that heading into day two of the match.
“We might look to push the game forward and get as many points as possible,” he said.
“We’ll try and make it interesting.”
Way said they were hoping that Saturday’s performance would help kick start their season.
“We’re sitting second bottom on the ladder five games into the season but it’s not a pretty big gap from third to last.
“It’s really tight, especially with the couple of washouts we’ve had.”
In other matches, Wallan is 0-22 in reply to Gisborne’s 9-249.
Five players scored in the 40s for the Dragons, with captain Jarryn Vernon top scoring with 47.
Macedon has set Woodend 195 for victory after being bowled out in the 74th over.
Cameron Clayton was left just short of 100, finishing 98 not out as the Cats made 194.
Woodend will resume at 1-7.
Broadford made 186 against Sunbury United as it was bowled out with two balls remaining.
