Last year’s inaugural match between the two associations was declared a tie after a couple of minor scorebook clerical errors prevented a clear result being affirmed.

But it was not the case this time around and despite having the home side on the ropes at 6/65 early in its innings, Mount Maurice was unable to close the game out and Roxby’s lower middle order toiled away to finish on 9/177 after facing the full 45 overs. Openers Randal Wyatt (4) and Wayne Moroney (6) both fell to the bowling of teen Kieren Blackwell and when Dion ‘Chook’ Foulis snapped up Adam Willis (1) it was 3/18.

Skipper Ryan Selkirk was on his way to a decent score when Paul ‘Slug’ Arthur had him caught Liam O’Dea for 16 at 4/35. Thirty runs later Allan Woolford (27) was caught behind by Scotty Kuerschner off Myles McCallum and Aiden Boulton (9) followed – caught Chook Foulis bowled Slug Arthur – without addition to the score.

But then it all changed and No.7 batsman Jason Carroll (59) and Craig Wilson (36) made easy runs and by the time they departed the score had squirted out to a creditable 8/169. Toby Ferguson (2) was soon bowled by paceman Foulis at 9/172 and Joel Nicholson remained (n.o. 2) in the total.

Foulis finished with 2/30 off nine overs and Blackwell’s figures were identical – 2/30/9. Slug Arthur took 2/25/9 and Smith 2/21/3 while Myles McCallum took 1/22/6.

In reply, Mount Maurice was bowled out for 130 runs in the 43rd over. Tyson Arthur (7) was caught Wyatt bowled Ferguson at 1/11 and No.3 Scott Kuerschner (7) was caught Wyatt bowled Nicholson at 2/31 but Mount Maurice was still well ahead of the target at this stage. Even after the loss of Jordan Arthur (28) and Michael Skull (21) at 4/72 the visitors looked the goods but it went downhill after that. Liam O’Dea (14) was caught Nicholson bowled Carroll at 5/79 and Smith made nine before he was caught Willis bowled Carroll at 6/90. Slee (8) and McCallum (8) did their best as did young Blackwell who compiled a useful 28 before he was bowled Selkirk caught Willis at 9/130. Slug Arthur was bowled Willis before he scored and Foulis (0) was the not out batsman.

Jason Carroll finished with 3/21 off nine overs and was subsequently awarded Man of the Match after top-scoring with 59 in Roxby’s innings. Willis, Selkirk and Nicholson took two wickets each and Ferguson finished with 1/17/7.