Port Elliot consolidated second spot on the ladder following their comfortable 65-run win at home against reigning premier Willunga during round seven action in the Great Southern Cricket Association on Saturday. Port Elliot batted first and they got off to an excellent start with Finn Hayden (40) and Liam Harris (39) adding 90 for the first wicket. Ben Griffiths continued the run scoring for the Bloods with 41 (50 balls), while Scott Hannam chimed in with 33 (34) balls towards the end of the innings as the home side posted a very competitive total of 6/195 from their 40 overs. Simon Roberts (2/15), Daniel Hockham (2/30), and Phil O’Connell (2/36) were the multiple wicket takers for the Demons. Willunga were never really in the hunt during their run chase with the highlight being a 63-run stand for the third wicket between James Whetstone (41) and Roberts (33). Rory Hanson added 25 not out (25 balls) as the Demons finished on 9/130. Chris O’Connor was the best of the Port Elliot bowlers with 3/22 (8), while Griffiths (2/23), Riley Paull (2/31) and Harry Grenfell (1/5 ) also took wickets.

Noarlunga won their third game on the trot with a low-scoring 23-run win against Myponga-Sellicks at Myponga. The Shoes batted first and got themselves into a reasonable position at 1/34 after 10 overs. After that it was all the Mudlarks as they bowled the visitors out in the 39th over for 106. Rohan Garrard top scored with 17, while acting skipper David Scarff made 15. Vinnie Nizzola (3/14), Cam Turner (2/11), Ryan Haverty (2/13), and Euan Maclachlan (2/32) were the multiple wicket takers for the home side. Myponga-Sellicks started their run chase well as they reached the drinks break at 2/55 (20) with Sean Haverty (17) and Ryan Haverty (16) top scoring. The wicket of Ryan Haverty precipitated a collapse of 8/23 as the Mudlarks were dismissed for 83 in the 34th over. Jack Langdon starred for the Shoes with 4/14 (8), while Scarff (2/8), Travis Bronstein (2/10), and Dale Parrish (1/22) were the other wicket takers.

Goolwa maintained their unbeaten record after a tough four-wicket win against Encounter Bay at Goolwa Oval. The Bays won the toss and decided to bat first with a 76-run partnership between Jason Parry (44) and Finn Magor (39) helping the visitors to 7/141 from their 40 overs. Goolwa skipper Jayden Crees continued his amazing season with 3/19 from eight overs (32 wickets for the season), and he was well supported by Shaun Burger (2/14) and Kingsley Vincent (2/16). The Goolwa run chase was underpinned by a fine innings from veteran Luke Giddings. Giddings batted throughout the innings to make 88 not out, his second score of 80+ in a row. He was supported by Andy Evans (28) in a second-wicket stand worth 57 as the winning runs came up in the 40th over. Zac Thompson (3/27) and Dillon Burns (2/30) were the multiple wicket takers for Encounter Bay.

Yankalilla won their second game of the season to keep in touch with the top-6 after defeating Aldinga at home by eight wickets. Aldinga batted first with Paul Inglis (24) the only Sharks batsman to reach 20 as the visitors were bowled out in the 34th over for 80. Luke Bartlett took 4/21 (6.3) and Aaron Smith snared (3/8) for the Tigers. ‘Yank’ made light work of the run chase as they polished off the target in 16 overs. Doug Jones scored a quickfire 48 not out (5 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s), while Luke Bartlett completed a good all-round double with 22 not out. Jonathan Piggins (1/11) and Brenton Averats (1/12) were the wicket takers for Aldinga.

McLaren Districts consolidated their position in the top-6 with a four-wicket win against Mount Compass at Burgess Oval.The home side batted first and could only amass 114 before being bowled out in the 39th over. The innings was dominated by a patient 59 from 113 balls (11 x 4’s) from opener Paul Barrett. No other batsman could reach 20 for the Bulls. All six Crushers bowlers took wickets with left-arm spinner Jacob Banks the standout with 4/13 from his eight-over spell. The returning Josh Van Den Broeke, currently playing for Adelaide University, took 2/30 (7.3). Jim Ryan and Justin Twartz (20) got the Crushers off to a fast start with a 34-run opening stand before a few quick wickets to Mount Compass skipper Aaron Dalitz, had the visitors at 4/65 and in some danger. Ryan continued on to top score with 47 (59 balls) as the Crushers steadied to bring up the winning runs in the 26th over. Dalitz finished with the fine figures of 4/26 (8). 

Ladder - after round 7

Goolwa 46, Port Elliot 40, Noarlunga 31, McLaren Districts 31, Encounter Bay 25, Myponga-Sellicks 24, Yankalilla 15, Willunga 12, Mount Compass 6, Aldinga 0.

Round 8 fixtures (7/1/23 - home team named first)

Noarlunga v Port Elliot

Encounter Bay v Myponga-Sellicks

Aldinga v Goolwa

McLaren Districts v Yankalilla

Willunga v Mount Compass