Nineteen wickets fell and only 225 runs were scored on Saturday as Moss Vale was rolled before Tully repeated the effort with a similarly poor batting performance.

On a trying Lackey pitch a late rearguard partnership between Ross Webb and Troy Brown steered Moss Vale to a score of 132. Tully started their first dig solidly but lost 7-26 to stumble to 9-93 at stumps. The visitors need a further 40 runs to catch Moss Vale and with Michael Earle, who made a half century against Wingello last week, coming into replace tailender Nathan Gilson Moss Vale may not have sown up first innings points just yet.

The bowlers dominated proceedings with Tully’s Brad Smith taking 6-42. Moss Vale’s Murray Burgoyne (4-18) and Troy Brown (4-34) replied in kind and both will be fighting to take the last scalp when play resumes on day two.

Webb (60no) showed the young, inexperienced Moss Vale line up how to build an innings with an unbeaten half-century as he and Brown (32) put on a 68-run partnership to save the home team after they were 6-38.

Moss Vale’s top order threw away their wickets with five of the top six caught out. Tully’s Tim Turner (2-30) is on a hat trick, while captain Mik Webber (1-28) and Gilson (1-27) also bowled well.

Justin Rowlings (39) made another good opening dig for Tully but after he fell it was all downhill for the visitors. Tully went from 1-46 to 7-72 as the middle order failed to negotiate the volatile pitch. Webber (13) was the next highest scorer.

The batting of both teams has let them down so far this summer. Moss Vale skipper Dave Edmends said after his team was dismissed after just 36 overs he wasn’t confident.

“Things got a lot better after 4pm. We did well to bowl our way back into the game,” he said.

“We want to get the last wicket early and then get some batting practise in the afternoon.”

“We will be disappointed if we don’t win.”

Moss Vale could learn a lot from Webb’s knock.

“Ross did very well and put on a good partnership with Troy. Brownie can bat a bit,” Edmends said.

The wicket had a lot in it for the bowlers.

“The pitch makes scoring difficult, it was very up and down,” Edmends said.

“One ball would race past your shoulder and the next would grubber along the ground.”

A win next Saturday could turn Moss Vale’s season around.

“A win here and hopefully another against Bowral before Christmas could get us back on track,” Edmends said.