Colts and Dalyellup did battle at the Recreation Ground and with only two games separating fourth and seventh on the ladder a win was vital. Colts batted first and minus a few of their big batting guns posted a respectable 185. Daniel Tyler reached 50 before succumbing to Tony Goodin and veteran Troy Wilson scored 29 in his first Grade game for the season. Matt Robinson was the chief destroyer with 4/27 while Goodin took 3/40.

Seb Benton once again led Dalyellup’s batting with a fine 69, which continued his consistent season. Anthony Ward also scored 25 as the Settlers scraped through with a well deserved one-wicket victory.

Eaton was out for revenge, and possibly a place in the four when they took on South Bunbury. In their last clash South Bunbury chased down 270 and this game once again was a nail biter.

Batting first, South Bunbury pulled a surprise by partnering in form opening batsman Aidon Thomas with opening bowler Peter Gaspar. The move paid dividends as Gaspar and Thomas put on 76 for the first wicket. When Peter Bulman was dismissed cheaply skipper Andrew Bayley promoted himself in order to lift the run rate and capitalise on the solid start.

An 88 run partnership ensued with Bayley at his damaging best with only a pulled hamstring slowing him down. He ended up with 66 off 45 balls which included six sixes. Thomas was dismissed soon after for 70, continuing on with his good recent form and allowed South Bunbury to post 6/210. Pick of the Eaton bowlers were Mitch O’Brien (3/55) and Darren Buck (2/62).

Buck continued on from his couple of wickets to open the batting and make 33 runs, however Eaton was soon in trouble at 5/80 before Shane Watling and youngster Kobus Wessels combined for a 75 run partnership.

Watling was dismissed for 31 and then Wessels for 46 to have Eaton still 52 runs short with only three wickets in hand. Another solid partnership of 49 between Travis Pyke (31) and Gary Liebregts (16no) got Eaton to within three runs of victory with one over to go.

Promoted B-grade bowler Darren Stephens was set the task of bowling the last over and enjoyed his debut taking the last two Eaton wickets in the over to give South Bunbury a two run victory and earning himself the very good figures of 4/25. Peter Gaspar also enjoyed a great game in taking 3 for 47 to go with his 26 at the top of the order.

Bottom team Bunbury was set the onerous task of stopping the rampaging Marist who was sitting nicely at the top of the ladder. To make things worse for the Bulldogs they had to do this without Skipper Shane Robbins, batsman Ray Leyshon and wicketkeeper Logue Hester.

Marist’s own keeper Adam Spinelli moved back to open and made a valuable knock in a 92 run partnership with Lee Sorfleet who continued on with his outstanding start to the season. Sorfleet then proceeded to add 119 with Ross Wintle (70) before he was dismissed just short of his century on 92. Only Norm Bedford was able to take multiple wickets (3/32) as Marist continued on their way with an impressive 6/257.

Scott Browne (3/19) and Simon Ross (2/8) had Bunbury immediately in trouble at 4/12 before some resistance from Bedford (20), Jason Treasure (18) and Brendan Boyle (18) got Bunbury over the century mark. Daniel Treasure and Jason Orr took two wickets each to wrap up the innings and give Marist a double bonus point 151 run victory.

In the final First Grade match of the round second placed Dardanup took on third placed Harvey-Benger at Harvey. A win for Dardanup would put them three games clear in the fight for the double finals chance.

However the Harvey-Benger boys had other ideas and thanks to an excellent 84 not out from Hayden Jones and 60 from opener Scott Fowler were able to amass the very good total of 7/227. Ben Cooper took two wickets to be Dardanup's only multiple wicket taker.

In reply Dardanup were in trouble losing in form Tim Cooper and Paul Buswell early before Clint Hewson (33) and Ben Cooper (26) put on 49 for the fourth wicket. With Johnny Crognale at his miserly best in taking 3/24 and Scott Fowler continuing on from his fine innings to take 3/25 Dardanup’s lower order succumbed losing 4/10 to be all out for 142. The 85 run victory gave Harvey-Benger a valuable bonus point and took them to within one game of the top two.