Now, it's joint leaders in Cricket Albury-Wodonga's provincial competition.

Of course, that's only after one round, so it's way too early to start predicting where the club will finish in the Border and North East's strongest club standard.

It's also difficult to compare the WDCA with CAW, as there are plenty of good players in the former, but it's fair to say there's a gap.

"People probably don't realise we were at the bottom of the 'Wang' comp, so things can turn around if you get it right," captain Daniel Athanitis said.

Corowa went from wooden spooners with only one win in 2016-17 to winning CAW's district first grade premiership the following season.

Successive preliminary final appearances followed before Saturday's provincial debut against Lavington.

The Panthers are a long-time powerhouse and although they were weakened, missing three automatic selections, including captain Michael Galvin, the magnitude of Corowa's one-run win can't be underestimated.

Privately, CAW officials will be delighted, although that's no disrespect to Lavington.

Whenever officials make a bold decision, they always want to have it justified and while it's a long 22-round season, it's the perfect start.

A new teams always adds excitement, but it must be competitive for the gamble to work, at least immediately.

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Those same officials might have been nervous when Corowa crawled to three figures.

"To defend 101 against a really good side, we were rapt, it was a big day for the club," Athanitis said.