Down to the wire! The Willows batted first on a magnificent wicket and had an excellent opening stand of 44 between Paul Russell and Mason Robinson. Paul was quick to despatch anything loose and picked up another half century while Mason turned the strike over nicely. After the breakthrough the Southland bowlers pegged the runs back and picked up more wickets to have The Willows 98 for 4. It was left to Jack Mockford and Michael Singleton to rebuild the innings. The big left-armer Charlie Hopcroft made the ball talk in his spell of ten overs 5 for 34.

Southland Boys’ started the run chase well. But it was the innings of Nick Brown which swung the game. The left hander took control early and played some textbook cover drives. Young Sam Smaill was his able lieutenant and batted sensibly. When both were dismissed SBHS were 195 for 6, needing only 13 more to win. Then came uncertainty under mounting pressure. With the score at 203 for 9 it could go either way but the final two prevailed. The Southland lads capped off a great day and deservedly won a nail-biter.