Fierce local rivals Goolwa and Port Elliot had a nail-biting start to their Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) season with Goolwa winning the round one clash by two runs with just two balls left in the game. Home side Port Elliot won the toss and decided to send Goolwa in and the Magpies struggled to get any momentum as they were bowled out for 113 in the 40th over. Jesse Le Ray (35) and Andy Evans (28) were the only Goolwa batsmen to pass 20, and their 54-run third wicket stand would prove pivotal to the outcome of the game. Scott Hannam (3/19), David Ling (3/22) and the evergreen Simon Donaldson (2/13) were the standout bowlers for the Bloods. Port Elliot’s run chase started in disastrous fashion as they slumped to 3/4 before Hayden Gordge (20) and Liam Harris (16) steadied the ship somewhat as they added 32 runs for the fourth wicket. Ling (13) and teenager Finn Hayden took the Bloods along to 5/60 and the game was on an even keel before Evans (4/18) struck with three wickets in five balls to leave the home side reeling at 8/60. Tyson Somerfield joined Hayden and this pair gallantly battled to get their side over the line with a 39-run stand before Hayden was dismissed for 20. Somerfield was joined by Donaldson with 15 runs required for victory. The equation became four runs needed from the last over to be bowled by new Magpies skipper Jayden Crees (3/11). Somerfield took a single from the second ball of the over before Donaldson was dismissed off the fourth ball to secure a great victory for Goolwa. Somerfield finished on 31 not out (31 balls), while Josh Jones (2/24) was the other multiple wicket taker for the Magpies.

Noarlunga started their 2021/22 season well as they defeated Encounter Bay by five wickets at Old Noarlunga. Shoes skipper Jason Scarff sent the Bays in, and the move paid early dividends as the visitors were soon struggling at 4/23 thanks to some excellent bowling from Matthew Ray (2/6), Harry Jackson (1/16) and Travis Bronstein (1/17). The big wicket for the innings was former Bays skipper Cam Lintern, who was unluckily run out at the non-striker's end without scoring. New captain Blake Bailey (33) and Dennis Rice (17) tried hard to add some respectability to the scoreboard as Encounter Bay completed their 40 overs on 8/93. Off-Spinner Anthony Burgess took the bowling honours for Noarlunga with 3/16 (8). The Shoes got off to a good start with Cam Bullard and Mason Parry adding 36 for the first wicket before Bullard was dismissed for 24 which precipitated a potentially disastrous collapse of 4/3. Burgess was playing a steadying hand with 26 not out and along with Jason Scarff (17 not out) he got his side over the line with 11 overs to spare. Teenager Kieran Garrett (2/12) and Shane Hastings (2/20) were the multiple wicket takers for Encounter Bay.

Willunga got their premiership defence off to the perfect start with a hard fought four-wicket away win against McLaren Districts. The home side won the toss and batted first and were off to a good start as Justin Twartz (35) and Ben Wilcox (14) put on 43 runs for the first wicket. Twartz and vice-captain Luke Goodieson (28) took the score to 1/77 and the Crushers were eyeing off a total of 160+. Tye McIvor (1/26) got the important wicket of Twartz and then the Willunga spinners took over, with skipper Luke Harding (3/21) and Simon Roberts (2/17) combining for five wickets. Two run-outs stifled the home side as they finished on 8/134 from their 40 overs. Willunga lost Joel Docking (0) early in their run chase before Harding (24) and Rhys Allard (27) combined for a handy 47-run partnership. Three quick wickets for the Crushers saw Willunga slightly on edge at 4/73, but Roberts (30) and ‘keeper Scott Brown (35 not out) saw the Demons to victory with nine balls to spare. Andrew Fechner was the standout bowler for the Crushers with 3/17 (8), while Dylan Howie (1/13) and Stephen Nairn (1/25) were the other wicket takers.

Round 2 fixtures (home team named first - 1 day games)

Encounter Bay v Port Elliot

Willunga v Noarlunga

Goolwa v McLaren Districts

Ladder (after round 1)

Noarlunga 6, Willunga 6, Goolwa 6, Port Elliot 0, McLaren Districts 0, Encounter Bay 0.