The Hills Cricket Association (HCA) ‘A’ grade season begins on Saturday (9/10) with eight teams chasing the Von Doussa Shield. Flagstaff Hill has moved to the Adelaide & Suburban Cricket Association, while after winning the A2 premiership last season, Bridgewater are back in ‘A’ grade ranks.Reigning premier Mount Lofty broke a 32-year premiership drought last season after their dramatic eight-run win over HCA powerhouse Meadows in the Grand Final. The Redcaps have retained their playing group and will once again be led by Jordan Neis-Beer, who had an excellent season in 2020/21 with 416 runs, including a match-winning 67 in the Grand Final. James Kittel-Neill, Adam Carthew, Aaron Smith and Josh Healey will all be keys to their teams success this season.2020/21 runners-up Meadows will once again be one of the teams to beat this season Rohan Reid will lead the Bulldogs as they look to win an amazing 13th premiership since 2005/06. Meadows will be without Kris Dawe and Josh Teakle at this stage, while Brad Louch and Daniel Cross have returned to the kennel. Meadows will look to the continued improvement from their young players including Oscar Tydeman, Cade Long and Will Bevan-Giles.Kangarilla played finals last season for the first time since joining the HCA in 2014/15 and defeated Aldgate in their semi-final before being knocked out by eventual premier Mount Lofty in the Preliminary Final. Che Martinsen will lead the club again and will be a key to his club's fortunes. Gun all-rounder Steve Featherstone  (396 runs & 21 wickets last season) and young bowler Ben Evans (25 wickets last season) will give Martinsen excellent support and ‘Kangies’ will hope batsmen such as Matthew Bertelsmeier and Lachlan Knight will step up this season. Cole Davy will be a big loss as he has moved to Whyalla for work.Aldgate were in the top-two for most of last season before slipping to third at the end of the minor round and then losing the knockout semi-final to Kangarilla to bring their season to an abrupt end. Captain-Coach Jake Turnbull will take charge of the Gaters again and he will look to the club’s depth and promising juniors to take Aldgate to the finals. Some key players for Aldgate include Mitch Thomas, who had a career-best season in 2020/21 with 437 runs (including two centuries) and Matty Hansen (23 wickets in 2020/21). Jack Woollard, who came across from Palmer last season, will be out for the season with a knee injury.Stirling missed finals action for the first time since 2016/17 but they have been active in the off-season as they prepare to get back to finals action. Jack Pick will lead the Eagles, while former premiership player Tim ‘Mayor’ Bull has been appointed senior coach. Fast bowler Daniel Parfitt has returned and Harrison Webb has been recruited from Murray Towns club Monarto. Webb is a three-time ‘A’ grade premiership player at Monarto and has made over 4,500 runs and taken more than 200 wickets for the club. Former junior Charlie Fryer will also play at the Eagles this season. Jacob Gonzalez is out for the season through injury.After spending the 2019/20 season in A2, Uraidla were back in the top flight last season and won four games, including a round one victory over Meadows. Michael Parker will lead Uraidla again this season with Alex Heptinstall and Renzo Gaetan taking on the role of co-coaches. Pete Wilson will be a huge addition for the Demons as he makes the move from district club Sturt. Ben Brumby also joins the club from Hahndorf. Teenager Mason Pitt has left the club to play in the Adelaide Turf competition for Ingle Farm. After winning back-to-back premierships in the A2 competition, Scott Creek Ironbank (SCIB) made their way back into A1 last season and had a tough winless campaign. Beau Thomas remains as captain and he will be very happy to have opening bowler Daniel Desengo back ‘full time’ this season. SCIB are also hopeful opening batsman Adam Shearwood will be back at the club this season. The club has worked hard in recent years to improve numbers and they will have three senior and three junior teams competing in 2021/22.Bridgewater has returned to A1 competition after winning the A2 premiership for the third time in the past seven seasons. Justin Summerill will skipper the Raiders in their return to ‘A’ grade ranks and he will be well supported by veteran Luke Hoyle. Experienced bowler Anthony Jennings will miss the start of the season due to an injury suffered in a Hockey Grand Final recently. The club is hopeful he won’t miss too much of the season. Jackson Hooper, fresh off winning the Mail Medal in the Hills Football League, will also be an important player for the Raiders in 2021/22.Round 1 fixture (home teams named first)Aldgate v BridgewaterScott Creek ironbank v StirlingMount Lofty v UraidlaMeadows v Kangarilla

Great Southern Netball Association - PremiersLeagueVictor HarborSenior 2McLaren ValeSenior 3Mount CompassSenior 4MypongaSenior 5Langhorne CreekSenior 6McLaren ValeIntermediate 1Victor HarborIntermediate 2Langhorne Creek Intermediate 3Mount CompassIntermediate 4Mount Compass13 & Under Division 1Langhorne Creek13 & Under Division 2Willunga13 & Under Division 3Mount Compass11 & Under Division 1Willunga11 & Under Division 2McLaren Vale - Blue

Southern Hills Netball Association - Premiers‘A1’ GradePulse Netball Club‘A2’ GradeMcLaren Flat‘A3’ GradeAldinga‘B1’ GradeKangarilla‘B2’ GradeSouthern Stars‘B3’ GradeSouthern Stars‘C1’ GradeNoarlunga‘C2’ GradeClarendonInters 1NoarlungaInters 2Seaford StormInters 3MeadowsInters 4Noarlunga13 & Under Division 1Southern Stars (a)13 & Under Division 2Aldinga13 & Under Division 3Seaford Storm11 & Under Division 1Southern Stars11 & Under Division 2Kangarilla11 & Under Division 3Aldinga (a)

Kangaroo Island Netball Association - Premiers‘A’ GradeParndana‘B’ GradeWisanger‘C’ GradeParndana‘D’ GradeParndana15 & underWestern Districts13 & underWestern Districts11 & underParndana

Southern Football League - Premiers (Men)‘A’ GradeFlagstaff Hill‘B’ GradeNoarlunga‘C’ GradeHappy ValleyUnder 17.5ReynellaUnder 15ReynellaUnder 13ReynellaSouthern Football League - Premiers (Women)‘A’ Grade  Flagstaff HillUnder 17 GirlsChristies BeachUnder 14 GirlsPort Noarlunga

Kangaroo Island Football League - Premiers (Men)‘A’ GradeWisanger‘B’ GradeKingscoteSenior ColtsKingscote

Great Southern Football League - Premiers (Men)‘A’ GradeWillunga‘B’ GradeMyponga/SellicksSenior ColtsEncounter BayJunior ColtsWillungaMini ColtsMcLarenGreat Southern Football League - Premiers (Women)Open WomenWillungaUnder 17 GirlsWillunga

Flagstaff Hill has made history with a sixth consecutive ‘A’ grade premiership in the Southern Football League (SFL) following their comprehensive 66-point win against Morphett Vale on Saturday. The Falcons joined Aldinga (1927-1932) in the ‘six-in-a-row’ club. Willunga actually won seven flags in a row between 1897 and 1904, with their run split into two halves when the competition went into recess in 1900. Back to Saturday, where the Falcons continued their dominance of the SFL as they led by 13 points at quarter time, 41 points at halftime and 50 points at the last change before winning 12.11 (83) to 2.5 (17). As they have all season, Flagstaff Hill shared the goals around with eight different goalkickers including Daniel Butcher (3), Mitchell Johnson (2) and Ryan Mountford (2). Jack Dal Santo and Daniel Noble were the goalkickers for Morphett Vale. Mitchell Johnson was adjudged best on ground for ‘Flaggies’ and he was well supported by Sam Tharaldsen, Matthew Walton, David Kearsley, Andrew Shearer and Tynan Carney. The Emus were best served by Dal Santo, Connor Lock, Daniel Bode, Bodie Sowter, Jake Dorshorst and Aiden Baker. Congratulations to Flagstaff Hill on an amazing achievement and well done to Morphett Vale, who won three finals on the trot to make it to the decider.In other grades, Noarlunga reversed last season’s result in the ‘B’ grade to defeat Flagstaff Hill by 19 points with Beau Donaldson adjudged best on ground. Reynella had a huge day in the juniors as they won all three grades starting with their under 13’s defeating Port Noarlunga by 34 points to complete an undefeated season. Reynella won a thrilling under 15’s decider by a point against Flagstaff Hill, while the Wine Flies completed the hat trick in the under 17.5's with a 12-point victory, also against the Falcons.

Willunga won their first Great Southern Football League (GSFL) ‘A’ grade premiership since 2009 with a convincing 47-point win against reigning premier Langhorne Creek in the Grand Final at Yankalilla this afternoon. It was the 10th ‘A’ grade flag for the Demons since they entered the GSFL in 1986. Langhorne Creek skipper Curtis Perrey won the toss and kicked with the aid of a blustery breeze, probably worth at least a couple of goals, but his team didn’t make good use of their advantage as they kicked 1.6 (12) to Willunga’s 2.1 (13) in the first term. Willunga didn’t make the same mistake when it was their turn to use the breeze as they kicked five goals to one in the second quarter to take a very handy 27-point lead into halftime.Langhorne Creek had the use of the breeze again in the ‘premiership quarter’ but it was Willunga who were full of running. The Demons kicked three goals to one for the term as they went to the final change with a convincing 37-point lead. The Hawks needed something special to continue their premiership reign and they started the last term well with a goal inside the first minute to give them some impetus. Sadly for the Hawks it didn't last long as Willunga hit straight back through veteran Jake Standfield, and it was as good as over with the Demons running away with the game to win 13.5 (83) to 4.12 (36). Standfield kicked five goals in a best on ground display while other good players for the triumphant Demons were Brian Fenton, Ruckman Daniel Bass, Billy Cook, Cam Hutchens and Brett Miegel. It was a real struggle for Langhorne Creek with no multiple goalkickers. Their best players were Darcy Clifford, Matthew Tonkin, Perrey, Jarrod Kellock, Tom Derham and Matt Dominish. So another year of fantastic action in the GSFL comes to an end with Willunga completing a dream season with premierships today in ‘A’ grade and Junior Colts to complement their wins in the Open Women and Under 17 Girls last month. In the other grades, Myponga/Sellicks won the ‘B’ grade title with a 22-point win against McLaren, Encounter Bay went back-to-back in the Senior Colts after accounting for Willunga by 16 points, while in the Junior Colts it was Willunga getting the chocolates with a comfortable 66-point victory over McLaren.

Morphett Vale defeated Reynella by 19 points in the Preliminary Final on Saturday to make their way through to their first Southern Football League (SFL) ‘A’ grade Grand Final since 2016. The Emus have won three finals on the trot and will take on the all-conquering Flagstaff Hill in the decider. The Falcons are aiming for a historic sixth consecutive premiership. Morphett Vale started well to lead by 17 points at quarter time and they extended their margin to a very handy 22 points at halftime. Reynella came right back into the contest with an excellent third quarter, kicking four goals to one, to trail by just one point at the last change. A spot in the decider was on the line in the final quarter as Morphett Vale stormed home with four goals to one to win 12.8 (80) to 9.7 (61). Daniel Noble was a star up forward for the Emus with six goals, while Brad Potter kicked three goals for the Wine Flies. Morphett Vale had plenty of good players including Aiden Baker, Daniel Bode, Daniel Earl, Noble, Connor Lock and Leroy Marsh. Reynella were best served by Sam Whitbread, Chris Hunter, Potter, Tyler Davies, Nicholas Dixon and Dylan Roser. Grand Finals @ Flinders University Stadium - Saturday 18 September‘A’ Grade (2.30pm)Flagstaff Hill v Morphett Vale‘B’ Grade (12.35pm)Noarlunga v Flagstaff HillUnder 17.5 (10.55am)Reynella v Flagstaff HillUnder 15 (9.20am)Reynella v Flagstaff Hill Under 13 (8.00am)Reynella v Port Noarlunga

Victor Harbor exacted revenge for last year’s shock Grand Final loss, as they defeated Willunga 68-51 to win the Great Southern Netball Association (GSNA) League premiership. It was Victor’s 15th consecutive victory after losing their opening round clash with Willunga. It was also their fifth League flag in the past six seasons. In the Senior 2 competition, McLaren Vale completed an undefeated season with a 43-32 win against Myponga while in Senior 3, it was Mount Compass taking out the flag with a comprehensive 49-24 victory against Myponga.

Willunga defeated McLaren by 63 points yesterday in the Preliminary Final to make their way through to the Great Southern Football League (GSFL) Grand Final at Yankalilla next Saturday (18/9). The Demons were dominant early as they had 11 scoring shots to 1 in the first quarter to lead by 25 points at quarter time. McLaren fought back in the second term as they added two goals while keeping Willunga scoreless as the Demons’ lead was cut to just 10 points at the long break. Willunga had the use of the breeze in the decisive third quarter and they took full advantage to kick 6.3 to 0.0 to take an unassailable 49-point lead into the last change. A further four goals to two in the last quarter saw the Demons win 14.13 (97) to 5.4 (34). Veteran Jake Standfield kicked four goals for Willunga, while Sean Beath kicked three. Henry Mathews and James Grimley each kicked two goals for the Eagles. In his second game back after three months off, Brian Fenton was best on ground for the Demons and he was well supported by Myles Warmington, Standfield, Liam Nye, Danny Irvine and Daniel Bass. Best for McLaren were Kaine Hopkins, Henry Mathews, Daniel Marr, Thomas Fenoughty and Sam Lawrie. Willunga will now get a shot at their first ‘A’ grade flag since 2009 and try to end Langhorne Creek’s dream of four consecutive premierships. Grand Finals @ Yankalilla - Saturday 18 September‘A’ Grade (2.30pm)Langhorne Creek v Willunga‘B’ Grade (12.45pm)Myponga/Sellicks v McLarenSenior Colts (11.15am)Encounter Bay v WillungaJunior Colts (9.30am)McLaren v Willunga 

The brave Breakers U13 girls and their hardy parents ventured to the cold, windy and wet West Lakes home of the Jaguars on Sunday. The girls’ teeth were chattering as the whistle blew for the start of the game and although Taylor Perry got herself into a good position in front of goal early, the Jaguars had the best of the early play, pushing the Breakers into uncharacteristic defensive mistakes. Lucy Boundey, again standing in for injured goalie Ella Keam, took a few attempts to find the ball during her first save but managed to reach behind and lock it down after testing some early nerves. The Jaguars looked dangerous though, pushing the defence of Hannah Rowlands, Lokke Rennerts and Bethany North hard, as they were forced to repeatedly put the ball out to stop a run of attacks. As the weather deteriorated, it almost became too cold to take notes and several umbrellas were lost to the cause on the sidelines. Coach O’Donnell, trying to get some oomph back in the girls’ game, sent Nuala Davis on.   She lifted the midfield, getting the ball up to Kayte O’Donnell who neatly passed across goal to Nila Mohring, who was just short of getting there before the goalie. The Jaguars jumped on the goal kick and Boundey found herself one-on-one with a thundering attack and no chance of saving a well-placed volley. Another goal to the Jaguars only minutes later was thankfully called offside but the Breakers were looking vulnerable. Boundey made another save but then another one-one-one contest gave the Jaguars their second goal. With just seconds to go before halftime Taylor Perry got onto a great shot and was unlucky to see it just go wide. The second half saw the Jaguars again start strongly and a shot into the side of the net gave the parents another scare. Some hard work by Alana Anderson won a corner for the Breakers and the girls started to play with more self-belief, despite attacking into the strong wind. Zara Yates won possession with some tough pressure and excellent passing from Mohring to O’Donnell almost saw Anderson score and claim the $25 bribe on offer from her family. Nuala Davis also came oh-so-close to scoring and then some hard work by Abby Ellis paid off with a pass to O’Donnell and finally the Breakers got their first goal. Only minutes later it was Ellis again who broke through, getting a shot through a scrimmage of players in front of the goal for the Breakers’ second. With the score locked at 2-2 the crowd was on tenterhooks. Rennerts and Amber Kim kept their heads under pressure and played some excellent defence to stop the Jaguars getting another chance on goal. The game ended in a draw; a great effort by the girls to come back from 2-0 down in very tough conditions.  Next week the girls are back at home, against Adelaide University. A win will secure them the Runner Up trophy for the season.  ** The Breakers are looking to field girls’ teams in the U9, U11, U13 and U15 age groups in the 2022 season.    Games are played on Sundays and training is twice a week.  It’s a great, supportive, inclusive environment and if you are interested in finding out more contact 0421 496 755.

Flagstaff Hill has won back-to-back ‘A’ grade Women’s premierships in the Southern Football League following their hard-fought 13-point win against Reynella at Aldinga today. Reynella finished the minor round undefeated but Flagstaff Hill showed their class in the finals to defeat the Wine Flies twice on their way to the flag. Conditions were tough at Shark Park as neither team managed to kick a goal in the first half with ‘Flaggies’ leading by a point at halftime. Emily Brockhurst kicked a crucial goal for the Falcons in the third term before there was a controversial moment with Nicole Mogg from ‘Flaggies’ given a yellow card for an indiscretion against Reynella’s Sarah Bourn two minutes before the last change. Reynella couldn’t take advantage of the situation as the reigning premier led by seven points with one quarter to play. The last quarter was played between the 50-metre arcs until the Falcons’ Isobel Dyson won herself a free kick for holding the ball and slotted home the second goal of the match at the 10 minute mark of the final term to give Flagstaff Hill an important 13-point lead. This was to be the last score of the match as the Falcons prevailed 2.2 (14) to the Wine Flies 0.1 (1). Soriah Moon from Flagstaff Hill was awarded the Bob Bache Medal for best player on the ground. Other good players for Flagstaff Hill were Dyson, Zoe Walker-Roberts, Tamsyn Morriss, Shay’Lee Dayman and Alana Baker. Best for Reynella were Renee Wurfel, Morgan Blackwell, Jessica Redigolo and Madison Bennett. In other grades, Port Noarlunga took out the under 14’s with a one-point victory over Aldinga, the under 17’s was won by Christies Beach following their 12-point win against Flagstaff Hill, while the Men’s ‘C’ grade flag went to Happy Valley as they defeated Morphett Vale by eight points. 

South Coast Hockey - Grand Finals @ GoolwaMen ‘A’ GradeVictor Blue 1Victor Grey 0Women ‘A’ GradeGoolwa 2Victor 1Under 17’sAldinga Black 3Victor/Goolwa 2Under 14’sVictor 6Aldinga Black 3

Flagstaff Hill won their 28th consecutive match and in the process qualified for a sixth successive Southern Football League (SFL) Grand Final after a convincing 86-point win over Reynella in the second semi-final on Saturday at Christies Beach. The five-time reigning premier appears unbeatable at the moment as they put paid to Reynella in ruthless fashion. The Falcons led by a handy 32 points at halftime and really turned it on in the third quarter with eight goals to zero, before winning 17.9 (111) to 3.7 (25). The Falcons had eight different goalkickers including Ryan Mountford (4), Brad Patterson (3) and Nathan Beenham (3). Bailey Marshman kicked two goals for the Wine Flies. Best players for Flagstaff Hill included Chris Puiatti, Brad Kirk, Patterson, Max Renfrey and Declan Tomkins. Reynella were best served by Nicholas Dixon, Bradley Potter, Sam Whitbread, Luke Calderbank and Tyler Davies. Morphett Vale’s impressive finals run continued as they knocked Happy Valley out of the competition with a 21-point win in the cut-throat first semi-final at Aldinga on Sunday. The Emus got off to a good start to lead by 18 points at quarter time before Happy Valley hit back in the second term to reduce the margin to just three points at halftime. Morphett Vale played an excellent third quarter as they kicked four goals to one and turned for home with a handy 21-point buffer. The last quarter was a real slog with each team kicking one goal as Morphett Vale won 12.8 (80) to 8.11 (59). Key forward Denis Iljcesen kicked six goals for the Emus while the SFL leading goalkicker Ben Geytenbeek slotted five majors for the Vikings. Scott Carpenter, Bodie Sowter, Daniel Bode, Iljcesen, Liam Corrie and Connor Lock were best for the Emus, while Happy Valley were best served by James Hay, Harry Spacie, Matthew Lillis, Liam Hamilton and Liam O’Connor.Preliminary Final (Saturday 11 September @ Port Noarlunga)Reynella v Morphett Vale (2.30pm)

Parndana won their first Kangaroo Island Netball Association (KINA) ‘A’ grade premiership since 2016 with a 50-40 win against Western Districts in Saturday’s Grand Final. Parndana were the dominant side in the minor round as they went through the season undefeated before Western Districts upset them in the second semi-final by 17 goals. Parndana bounced back with a big win in the Preliminary Final and produced a 27-goal turnaround in the decider to take the flag. In other grades, Wisanger defeated Parndana 52-41 in the ‘B’ grade, Parndana continued their big day with wins in the ‘C’ grade over Western Districts and in the ‘D’ grade against Kingscote. In the juniors, Western Districts did the under 15/under 13 ‘double’ with wins against Wisanger and Parndana respectively. Parndana completed a great day on their home courts with their fourth premiership with the Roosters under 11’s defeating Western Districts 33-4.

Reynella bounced back from their first loss of the season in the second semi-final last week, to defeat Cove by 38 points in the Preliminary Final and move into the Southern Football League Women’s (SFLW) Grand Final on Sunday against reigning premier Flagstaff Hill. Reynella went into the game against the Cobras as warm favourites, and their win was set up by a strong first half which saw them take a handy 27-point lead at halftime. Cove were battling hard but Reynella had all the answers as they kicked two goals to one in the second half to win 7.8 (50) to 2.0 (12). Emily Woods kicked three goals for the Wine Flies, while the Cobras two goals were kicked by Alesia Leduff and Lauren Grigg. Best players for Reynella were Sarah Bourn, Madison Bennett, Grace Doran, Jessica Redigolo, Caitlin Williams and Renee Wurfel. Cove were best served by Dana O’Brien, Jaime Norup, Samantha Franson, Grigg and Felicity Oliver.Grand Finals - Sunday 12 September @ AldingaUnder 14 Girls (9.00am)Port Noarlunga v AldingaUnder 17 Girls (10.25am)Christies Beach v Flagstaff Hill‘A’ Grade Women (1.35pm)Flagstaff Hill v Reynella

Reigning premier Willunga are through to the Great Southern Netball Association (GSNA) League Grand Final following their convincing 65-38 victory against McLaren Vale in the Preliminary Final at Yankalilla on Saturday. The win sees Willunga take on Victor Harbor for the third consecutive year in the GSNA decider. ‘Victor’ took the honours in 2019 with a six-goal victory, while Willunga took out last year's title with an upset seven-goal win.Grand Final (Saturday 11 September @ Strathalbyn)Victor Harbor v Willunga (3.15pm)