With a statewide rankings system to be introduced from 2017, the league was desperate to make up for last season’s disaster against Pensinsula and it did so in style with a 20.14 (134) to 9.14 (68) victory at Reid Oval.

The result sees the Ovens and Murray ranked eighth in Victoria, with Hampden falling to 11^th. Geelong is the top-ranked competition while neighbouring Goulburn Valley is seventh on the table.

Albury teammates Daniel Cross and Elliott Powell were the architects of the win.

Cross racked up 39 touches to collect the Norm Minns Medal as the league’s best player while Powell was judged best-on-ground by co-coaches Darrell Spencer and Jon Henry.

While the final scoreline showed a comfortable victory, the Ovens and Murray was made to work hard for the win after trailing by nine points at quarter-time.

Hampden, which hasn’t beaten the Ovens and Murray since 2002, came out fiercely, kicking three of the first four goals as it made the most of a flukey breeze.

The Ovens and Murray responded in the second term, with five unanswered goals to Shane Gaston, Shaun Mannagh, James Svarc, Brayden O’Hara and Jydon Neagle helping it to an 18-point buffer at the main break.

Svarc and Christian Burgess extended the advantage to 31 points early in the third term but North Ballarat Rebels star Jamaine Jones and former Melbourne player Rory Taggert weren’t prepared to give up without a fight.

Hampden got back to within three goals and threatened to get closer with Wodonga defender Jackson Heagney-Steart off the ground with a leg injury.

But with Matt Dussin and Jack Di Mizio solid as a rock across the half-back line and Cross knocking up winning touches, the Ovens and Murray took a 31-point lead into the final change and was always going to be tough to beat kicking with the wind in the last quarter.

The visitors piled on seven unanswered goals in the final term to ensure the long drive back to the Border would be a sweet one.

Cross said it was a thrill to follow in his father Peter’s footsteps and represent the Ovens and Murray at interleague level.

“It was a hard-fought win, they were a good side and made us earn it,” he said.

“I’m really happy to be able to get the win. I’m really proud of where I come from and was definitely keen to put my hand up to play.”

Goals: Ovens and Murray: J. Mellington 4, J. Svarc 3, C. Burgess 3, B. O'Hara 3, B. Doswell 2, J. Neagle 2, S. Gaston, E. Powell, S. Mannagh; Hampden: P. Anderson 3, J. Jones 2, J. Lewis, J. Hollmer, P. Carse, B. Moore.

Best: Ovens and Murray: D. Cross, E. Powell, M. Dussin, H. Heta, B. O’Hara, J. Di Mizio, J. Neagle, J. Svarc; Hampden: J. Jones, B. Harrington, B. Moore, D. Mooney, R. Taggert, N. Thompson.

Goals: Ovens and Murray: H. McKimmie 3, T. McMullan 2, J. Lavis, J. Kirley, D. Brew, T. Gallaway, E. Boxall, R. Sharp; Hampden: M. Gattek 2, J. McKinnon 2, J. Benallack, D. Cox, K. Mercovich

Best: Ovens and Murray: B. Sharp, J. Lavis, D. Brew, B. Coburn, B. Melville, R. Sharp; Hampden: J. Hammond, J. Hutt, J. Benallack, S. James, L. Bone, J. McKinnon