Reigning premier Willunga won their first game of the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) season with a comprehensive nine-wicket win against McLaren Districts during round six action at Willunga. The Demons had already banked first innings points on day one, and looked to build a good lead before declaring and pushing for an outright win. Luke Harding and Simon Roberts added 99 runs for the second wicket before former skipper Harding went for 49 (97 balls). Rhys Allard then joined Roberts and made a whirlwind 34 from 19 balls (5 x 4’s, 1 x 6), in a third wicket partnership worth 75 runs. However, Roberts was the star of the day with an undefeated 113 from 120 balls (14 x 4’s, 3 x 6’s). It was Roberts’ second ‘A’ grade century for the Demons. Willunga eventually declared at 3/212, an overall lead of 122 runs with 53 overs remaining in the game. The Crushers were in early trouble at 4/54 before Keith Schofield (26 off 69 balls) and Stephen Nairn (17 not out off 105 balls) put up the shutters to stave off the outright, with the visitors finishing on 5/104. Roberts, who took 5/30 in the first innings, took 2/35 (20.1) in the Crushers second dig to complete a fine all-round double.

Encounter Bay won their third game of the season with a solid 59-run win at home against Yankalilla. The Bays had posted a good total of 5/230 on day one and would have been confident of defending their total. Yankalilla started reasonably well, but at 4/91, the Bays were well on top before Aaron Smith and Luke Bartlett came together. This pair got the Tigers to a good position at 4/142 before Smith went for 32. Smith’s dismissal precipitated a collapse of 6/29, as Yankalilla were bowled out in the 60th over for 171. Doug Jones (30) and Kohen Major (23) made solid contributions, while vice-captain Bartlett was left stranded on 42 not out to be the top scorer for his team. Encounter Bay skipper Blake Bailey was the star with the ball as he took career-best figures of 6/33 from 17 overs. It was his third five-wicket haul in ‘A’ grade ranks. Teenager Kieran Garrett also took career-best ‘A’ grade figures with 3/14 (8.5).

Goolwa maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a comprehensive outright victory against Myponga-Sellicks by an innings and 44 runs yesterday. Goolwa resumed on 2/105 after bowling the Bulls out for just 65 on day one, and quickly set about putting on quick runs through Luke Giddings and Fred Nissen. This pair added 80 runs for the third wicket before Giddings went for 85. Nissen finished with 35 not out. Even without skipper Jayden Crees in the bowling lineup, Goolwa were too strong for Myponga-Sellicks in the second innings as they bowled the Mudlarks out for just 76. Cam Turner played a lone hand for Myponga-Sellicks as he top scored with 32. Andy Evans was the chief destroyer for Goolwa with the fine figures of 5/9 from 13.5 overs. Shaun Burger chimed in with 2/23 (6) as the Magpies machine rolled on.

Noarlunga pushed themselves up to third spot on the GSCA ladder with a comprehensive win against Aldinga by an innings and 27 runs at Old Noarlunga yesterday. The Shoes began day two on 7/118, an overall lead of 34 runs. The home side batted on for 10 overs, putting on 51 runs, before declaring on 8/169, a lead of 85. Jack Langdon (27 not out) and Harry Jackson (21) put on 33 runs for the eighth wicket. Aldinga had to survive 60 overs to avoid another outright defeat but it wasn’t to be as the Sharks were bowled out for 58 in the 33rd over. Tim Robinson top scored for Aldinga with 14. Jamie Keers snared 2/15 (9) for Noarlunga, but the star with the ball for the Shoes was Dale Parrish. Leg-spinner Parrish took 5/21 from eight overs to give him match figures of 9/60. 

The outright wins continued with Port Elliot defeating Mount Compass by nine wickets at Port Elliot yesterday. Mount Compass resumed their second innings on 4/43, still needing another 64 runs to make Port Elliot bat again. The Bulls battled hard with Josh Murfitt (46) and Aaron Dalitz (31) adding 82 runs for the sixth wicket before they lost their last 5/4 to be bowled out for 132. Simon Donaldson bowled a marathon spell to take the bowling honours with 6/46 (21.4). Donaldson finished with the excellent match figures of 9/53. Harrison Grenfell chimed in with 2/21 (7). Port Elliot were left needing just 26 runs to win which they did for the loss of just one wicket. Ben Griffiths (16 not out) and Tyson Somerfield (5 not out) were there at the end for the Bloods. 

Ladder - after round 6

Goolwa 40, Port Elliot 34, Noarlunga 25, Encounter Bay 25, McLaren Districts 25, Myponga-Sellicks 24, Willunga 12, Yankalilla 9, Mount Compass 6, Aldinga 0.

Round 7 fixtures (1-day games - home team named first)

Port Elliot v Willunga

Myponga-Sellicks v Noarlunga

Goolwa v Encounter Bay

Yankalilla v Aldinga

Mount Compass v McLaren Districts