The Elders Cup cricket competition got off to a shaky start at the weekend with two of the three opening games cancelled due to forfeits.

Lott’s Family Hotel forfeited their match against premiers Tumut Plains at Stan Crowe Oval at Gundagai, and Coolac forfeited their game against Adelong Donkeys, which was originally to be played at Adelong Showground but later scheduled for the Bull Paddock.

In better news for the Tumut District Cricket Association, the match that did go ahead, between Wyangle and the Murrumbidgee Mankadders at newly renovated and picturesque Riverglade Oval, was an entertaining one, with Wyangle prevailing on the day.

The Mankadders batted first, and were all out for 143 in 37.2 overs.

For Wyangle, Zayn Bartlett took 3/24 for seven over including a maiden, and Ronan Butler 3/30 from 7.2 overs.

While this seemed an acceptable total, Wyangle reeled it in for the loss of only two wickets.

Ryan Bulger top scored with an unbeaten 68 from 71 balls, including five fours and four sixes.

Ronan Butler backed up with 42 from 48 balls including four fours and one six.

For the Mankadders, Ryan Marshman took 1/28 from six overs.

Wyangle’s David Shedden said he and his teammates were very happy to get a first up win.

“We were only able to field 10 players yesterday which is a concern all right, given that it’s the start of the season and we had put the start back a week,” he said.

“I was very happy with the way the boys played for the first game of the season. I thought our bowlers were solid and were well backed up in the field.

“Our skipper Ryan Bulger paved the way with a powerful half century and was well supported by Ronan Butler and Tahir Muakadam.”

Shedden liked some of what he saw from the Mankadders.

“I definitely think that the Murrumbidgee boys will be very competitive this season,” he said.

“Unlike the rest of the teams they have good player numbers and this will keep them all very keen.

“I think that they may have been missing a couple of handy players on Saturday which will only make them stronger as the season progresses.”

He was understandably concerned about the two other games being lost to forfeits.

“Two forfeits first up are of grave concern to the association, and some questions will be asked of the two clubs who were unable to field teams this week,” he said.

“Let’s just hope that it was a one off.”

The Mankadders’ Michael Hargreaves found a mix of positives and negatives about the day.

“First of all it was a cracking day of cricket with ebbs and flows both ways, with a one-third of the comp forfeiting this was great advertisement for Tumut Cricket, as the two biggest killers in the country are loneliness and obesity so if you’re reading this paper and struggling with either of those, join your local cricket club,” he said

He said the team didn’t meet their expectations they had discussed as a batting group.

“We can’t lose early wickets or in clumps,” he said.

“Will Bingham, myself, Josh Marshman and Steve Miller are the senior batsmen and we didn’t face enough balls or score enough runs; only Richard Wadleton on debut showed resolution with the bat.

“Shiva Ratra (34) and Izaya Yeomans (31*) gave us a great chance and that’s huge from them as they are great players we can build around.”

He paid credit to Wyangle for their performance.

“They had to bowl tight as they were short of fielders and they did,” he said.

"Tahir and Ronan barely bowled a bad ball and they strangled us when we should’ve got away."

He admitted his team were no match with the ball for Wyangle.

“Pat Hargreaves, who was visiting from Sydney, was shocked that yeah if you bowl a short ball to Ryan Bulger he will make it disappear behind the trees,” he said.

“We had ample opportunities to win this game, yet if you drop their top batsmen several times each they will punish you.”

The Mankadders had several debutants on the day.

“Rich, Izaya and Steve Miller’s brother Bones, who missed with the bat coming in at nine but showed great character in the field," Hargreaves said.

“It’s a team we’re confident of building on and yes we lost but also had 13 available and had to drop a player - you can win when you lose.

“Credit to Dave Shedden and Ryan Bulger for a great game and a showcase for Tumut cricket.

“We will come back stronger and plan a better batting group for when we can replace me at the top of the order with a bloke like Warwick Pethybridge or Nelson Foley who doesn’t back away from 100k in-swingers.”