It's fair to assume the HCA Board Members would have slept tightly on Saturday night knowing that Colts, Noradjuha/Toolondo Bullants and Blackheath/Dimboola, the teams they promoted to A Grade, performed admirably.

The game of the round in A Grade was Jung Tigers and Bullants. In a match where the bat dominated the ball Jung Tigers were undermanned with six of last year's grand final team absent. The Tigers batted first putting together 3/200 off their 40 overs. Veteran David Puls put together a hard earned 83 runs including ten boundaries and one towering six over mid-on. Sam Leith chimed in with an energetic 50 runs and captain Angus Adams made 40.

The Bullants bowlers toiled as best they could and their efforts could have been more rewarding if their fielders had been able to hold onto catches. The Bullants started their innings intent on scoring. Captain Kent Hair was the first wicket down, attempting to hit Tigers new comer Tom Russell across the line only to hear the rattle of middle stump hitting the ground.

Justtin Combe soon took control with the bat putting together an unbeaten 111 and along with Josh Beddison, who made a cameo 28, led Bullants to victory in the 39th over.

Colts should be happy with their performance against Rup/Minyip. They failed to run down the target of 210 set by Rup/Minyip, falling 48 runs short. Colts had three batters however none of them were able to capitalise to put together a longer innings in which the result could have been different. Standout player in this game was Rup/Minyips Mark Mbofana who made 67 with the bat. Adam Carter took 3/1 to help close the Colts innings.

Tony Caccaviello returned to Horsham Saints after spending last season at Geelong but it wasn't enough to get the Saints across the line against Homers. Caccaviello, who spent most of the season batting low down the order in Geelong, relished the opportunity in the middle order making 43. Tim Bell made 68 for the Saints as they put together a respectable 6/171. The hero of last season's grand final Craig Britten took 3/25 for Homers.

The Homers batting lineup looked a little bare without the surname Hopper to be seen in the team list for the first time, according to the pundits, in too many years to remember. Adam Atwood was steady opening for Homers, making 72, but it was Britten who put together a quick fire 44 which gave Homers the win in the 38 th over. Saints coach Caccaviello took 1/21 off his 8 overs.

A target of 139 can be always be tough early in the season on the lush Laharum oval and that's exactly what Laharum found out in their game against Blackheath/Dimboola. Brodie Cramer and Elliot Braithwaite put together a partnership of 97 making 55 and 41 respectively as Blackheath/Dimboola made 9/138. Adam Barber took 3/15 for Laharum. Braithwaite opened the bowling when the Laharum innings got underway and took 3/19. Josh Mahoney and Ben Peucker got starts for Laharum, but it was Mal Adams with an unbeaten 29 not out who tried to get Laharum to victory. He ran out of partners in the 29 th over still 20 runs short of the target.

In B Grade action Horsham Saints had a 24 run victory over Quantong. Youngster Dylan Thompson made 45 for the Saints. He also contributed 3/21 with his off-spin. Troy Dumesny opening for Quantong made 34. The Lubeck/Murtoa and Jung Tigers clash was over in quick fashion with the Tigers all out for 33. Junior cricketer Nick Ballagh was responsible for this batting collapse taking 6/8 off 6 overs, an impressive performance by any standard. Lubeck/Murtoa took 15 overs for victory.

In great news for the HCA former Colts cricketer Drew Carmody is expected to make his umpiring debut on the weekend. It's a coup to have a recently retired player join the umpiring ranks and the HCA will be hoping Carmody will be followed by other former cricketers.