The three local cricket grand finals finished with three separate storylines: a century-old premiership drought broken, a dynasty continuing and an upset to stop another going further. Plus, local footy returned earlier than usual, with the HFL’s Country Division getting underway. Catch up on all the action here:
GREAT SOUTHERN CRICKET ASSOCIATION (full scorecard here)
Goolwa has broken a 100-year premiership drought, after they beat Port Elliot by three wickets in the Great Southern Cricket Association grand final over the weekend.
Josh Jones starred with a Herculean effort with the ball, bowling 34 overs straight to take 7/44 to restrict Port Elliot to 108.
Goolwa then limped to the finish line but did what was needed, with Jones coincidentally hitting the winning runs to secure the flag.
It marks another heartbreaking result for Port Elliot, who have now lost the last four grand finals.
ALEXANDRA AND EASTERN HILLS/HILLS CRICKET ASSOCIATION (AECHA scorecard here, HCA scorecard here)
One dynasty in the Hills has continued while another has been ended, with two eventful grand finals taking place over the weekend.
The Alexandra and Eastern Hills final was shortened by rain on Saturday, however it made little difference to Lobethal who won their fifth straight flag with a convincing eight-wicket win over Langhorne Creek after holding them to a poultry 66 off 33 overs.
The Hills Cricket Association final was high-scoring on the other hand, with Aldgate winning their first title in 7 years with an 18-run win over Stirling, who were chasing their fourth in five years.
Luke Smet starred in the grand final win, making 40 not out before taking three wickets with the ball.
HILLS FOOTBALL LEAGUE COUNTRY DIVISION (full results here)
Footy is back in the Hills, with the Country Division’s opening round serving up three surprise results first up on Saturday.
Last year’s grand finalists Kangarilla were belted by 50 points in their first up clash against Kersbrook, Meadows have turned around their second-last placing last season to smash Gumeracha by 80 and Birdwood cruised past Echunga to win by 23.
The only match that went the way of the favourites was defending champions Macclesfield beating the returning Bridgewater, with the Blood and Tars winning by 64.
