Willunga has already taken first innings points in its home clash with Goolwa during day one action in the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) on Saturday. Round five matches commenced under brilliant blue skies, a welcome change from the weather so far this season. However for Goolwa, it was a dark day, as they were bowled out for just 71 in the 31st over. Fred Nissen battled hard for the Magpies to top score with 31, but he had very little support with extras (9), the second highest score. All four Willunga bowlers took wickets with Simon Roberts once again the star act. Roberts took 5/2 from 6.1 overs to give him 15 wickets for the season so far at an average of just 4.53! Luke Goldner, wicketless coming into round five, snared 3/14 from nine overs, while Joe Last (1/22) and Sean McIvor (1/30) chimed in with a wicket each. This left the Demons with 39 overs to bat before stumps and the reliable opening pair of skipper Luke Harding (23) and Joel Docking started well, adding 58 runs for the first wicket. Rhys Allard wasted no time getting in on the act as he hit a quickfire 45 from 35 balls (5 x 4’s, 1 x 6) as he and Docking put on 66 for the second wicket. Docking went on to make 51 from 105 balls (7 x 4’s) before he was dismissed by the returning Jesse Consalvo (2/31). Willunga finished the day on 4/146 with a lead of 75 runs.

“Overall it was a fairly inexperienced Goolwa side on the weekend and we weren’t disappointed to be bowling first given the fact we had  our full strength bowling line up available for the first time this season,” said Willunga skipper Luke Harding. 

“Luke Goldner was back to his relentless best, beating both sides of the bat and on another day he could easily have taken four or five wickets. Simon Roberts went as close as you can to another hat-trick, but he had to settle for three wickets in four balls on his way to another five-wicket haul. He was a class above really, just attacking the stumps and the Goolwa middle and lower order had no defence to his accuracy and variations,” Harding said. 

“Joel Docking led the way with another half century and he continues to build on his excellent season in 2020/21. We have a great partnership at the top of the order and seem to be alternating who makes the most each week.”

“At this stage we lead by 75 runs and we’d like a few more before putting Goolwa back in and letting our bowlers get to work. It’s a big day for our club on Saturday as we host our Past Players Day, commemorating the 1991/92, 2001/02 and 2011/12 ‘A’ Grade premierships.”

The match at Encounter Bay between the Bays and McLaren Districts was evenly poised at stumps on day one with the visitors at 2/27 in reply to Encounter Bay’s first innings of 150. Earlier in the day, Blake Bailey won the toss for the Bays and elected to bat first. The home side were in early trouble at 3/57 before Cam Lintern joined David Marks in a 68-run fourth wicket stand and a score of 200+ looked on the cards. The Crushers had other ideas as they took the last seven wickets for just 25 runs to dismiss Encounter Bay for 150 in the 59th over. Lintern made 40 from 55 balls (5 x 4’s), while Marks finished with 63 from 142 balls (4 x 4’s). Having his first bowl in ‘A’ grade ranks this season, Bodie Wilson was the star with the ball for the Crushers as he ran through the Bays tail to capture 5/16 from nine overs. Andrew Fechner (2/21) and Jett Holberton (2/44) lent good support. McLaren Districts had a tricky 11 overs to survive and they lost opening batsmen Justin Twartz (11) and Ben Wilcox (4). Finn Magor (1/0) and Blake Bailey (1/19) were the wicket takers for Encounter Bay. 

Noarlunga posted 8/193 from their 70 overs on an even day at Port Elliot. Shoes skipper Jason Scarff won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first at the picturesque Port Elliot Oval, but the visitors were in early trouble at 3/54. David Scarff (44 from 121 balls) was joined by Anthony Burgess (30 from 72 balls) and this pair started to resurrect the innings through a 61-run fourth wicket stand. This pair was dismissed an over apart as Port Elliot were back on top with the Shoes at 5/115, which then became 8/153 with just seven overs remaining. Ben Stewart-Tonkin (32 not out) and Matty Ray (13 not out) then put on a very important 40-run unbroken ninth wicket partnership to lift Noarlunga to a competitive total at stumps. Harry Grenfell (3/11 from nine overs), Simon Donaldson (2/21 from 18) and Joel Harris (2/27 from eight) were the main wicket takers for the Bloods.