The MOCCC 2ndXI started the season with a comfortable win on the road against Ashburton. Captain Coloe won the toss and had no hesitation in batting. The original odd couple of Massarotti and Keogh opened the innings with both making solid scores in the 20’s. Dan Coloe and Paul Dinneen then came together and put on an entertaining third wicket stand of 73 before Paul was caught going for one too many big shots. A great knock of 52 to start the season. Coloe finished not out 40 as we made a very respectable 181 from our 40 overs.

Peter French, on the comeback trail from an injury-interrupted season last year opened the bowling and got an early wicket with the Ashburton opener not offering a shot. The other opener, Lines, was dealing exclusively in boundaries on his way to 44 until Benny McCarthy, bowling a great spell got one through the gate to have Ashburton 2/50. After drinks John Dinneen came on to bowl and the opposition made the fatal mistake of trying to target him as our weak link. Six overs and 5/13 later the game was pretty much done with Rushy and Frenchy chipping in for one more wicket each. Ashburton were all out for 100.

Aside from a few dropped catches which will need to be worked on at training it was a very solid start for the boys with old rivals St. Kevin’s to come this week at Marcellin.

Match Report Written by Daniel Day