Lobethal won their first Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association (AEHCA) ‘A’ grade premiership following their comfortable six-wicket win against Nairne in the Grand Final on Saturday. Lobethal were a dominant force in the Torrens Valley Cricket Association, winning eight consecutive premierships, before moving to the AEHCA for the 2011/12 season. Current club president Dave Huxter played in the 2010/11 TVCA premiership for the Tigers, and he was in the side on Saturday as his club created history. Lobethal won the toss on Saturday and decided to bowl first and they kept things tight early before Robert Crook (6) was dismissed with the score at 1/14. Crook’s dismissal brought the dangerous Jarrad Tait to the crease and he looked in good touch before he was well caught at point by Huxter off Dillon King’s bowling for 15 and Nairne were 2/36. James Graves (17) was battling hard but when he was dismissed, the Razorbacks were in strife at 3/45. Shane Kenney (28) looked like he could do some damage as he hit Mitch Weeks for two sixes over the legside before Matt Martin dismissed him with a good short ball. The innings stalled for Nairne after Keney departed as they lost their last 6/34 to be bowled out for just 122. All six Lobethal bowlers took wickets with James Elliott (3/12) and King (3/30) the multiple wicket takers. Huxter (1/10 off nine) and Martin (1/14 off nine) also bowled excellent spells for the Tigers.

Nairne needed early wickets but Lobethal’s opening pair of Ben Matthews and Sam Graeber kept them at bay, with a solid opening stand worth 49 runs before Graeber departed for 23 (53 balls). Lachy Bates (16), King (12 not out), Weeks (12) and Daniel Norsworthy (11) all made handy contributions, but it was Matthews who carried the innings as the winning runs came up in the 38th over. Matthews finished with 42 not out from 109 balls (4 x 4’s) to take out the man-of-the-match award. Mitch Hein (1/11), Brodie Clarke (1/26), Chad Harrop (1/29) and Tait (1/39) were the wicket takers for Nairne. 

In other grades, Woodside defeated Nairne to win the A2 premiership, Strathalbyn took out the ‘B’ grade title after defeating Lobethal by seven wickets, Ashbourne won the ‘C’ grade flag after defeating Strathalbyn and Nairne took out the ‘D’ grade with a win against Langhorne Creek. In the junior grades, Hahndorf won a tight under 16’s grand final by 24 runs over Strathalbyn, while Woodside defeated Mount Barker White by 34 runs to take out the under 14’s premiership.