The Wanderers issued a statement to the rest of the competition after disposing of Rovers United-Bruck to the tune of 259 runs.

After bowling the Hawks out for 60 on the opening weekend, Beechworth piled on 9-319 on Saturday to extend its gap in second place to the chasing pack.

Surrey admitted the damage had already been done.

“We managed to bowl them out for 60 and pass them on the first day, so that was probably more pleasing than yesterday (Saturday) when there was really nothing on the line,” he said.

“We couldn’t really go down and they couldn’t pass us.

“To get a result like that when it was second versus third was very good and I think they’re the team to beat.”

In other fixtures, 137 proved enough for Greta who bowled Benalla-Violet Town United out for 80, City Colts made 8-210 in reply to Ovens Valley United’s 173, wickets continued to fall in the Yarrawonga-Mulwala and Wangaratta Magpies’ clash, with the latter bowled out for 60 in its second innings as the Lakers took the points, while Benalla Bushrangers passed Delatite’s 9-166 on their way to 241 to claim victory.

The ladder is: City Colts 106.17, Beechworth 96.03, Rovers United-Bruck 85.68, Yarrawonga-Mulwala 79.92, Benalla Bushrangers 68.78, Benalla-Violet Town United 61.13, Wangaratta Magpies 58.30, Greta 58.15, Ovens Valley United 57.85, Delatite 52.30, Corowa 42.89.