Prepare your Garden for Winter

As the chill of winter approaches, it might seem like a natural time for gardeners to take a break and let their gardens rest. However, the colder months offer a unique opportunity to prepare and maintain gardens in ways that pay off beautifully in the spring and beyond. While the need for lawn mowing may diminish, winter gardening tasks abound, promising a lush, healthy garden ready for the warmer months. Here are some essential winter gardening activities that will keep your green thumb busy.

PRUNING

One of the most crucial tasks in winter is to prune dead or damaged branches from your plants and trees. This not only cleans up your garden but also encourages healthier growth in spring. Winter is the ideal time to prune roses, deciduous trees, and a variety of plants including frangipanis, gardenias, hydrangeas, and ornamentals.

MULCHING

Protecting your soil and plants with a layer of organic mulch is especially important during winter. Mulch acts as a barrier against frost and helps maintain soil moisture, all while keeping weeds at bay. This practice is particularly benefcial in regions that experience harsh winters.

Growing Winter Vegetables

Contrary to popular belief, some vegetables thrive in the cooler months. Caulifower, brussels sprouts, carrots, garlic, radishes, and lettuce can all be cultivated in winter gardens. For those eager to enjoy fresh produce, radishes are a resilient choice, capable of growing in sub-freezing temperatures. Strawberries, too, can be a sweet addition to your winter vegetable patch.

Refreshing The Vegetable Garden

Use the winter downtime to enrich your vegetable garden with compost and clear out any non-producing plants. This period is also perfect for planning and preparing for what you’ll plant in the spring.

Herb Gardening

Some herbs, like thyme, rosemary, mint, and sage, can withstand the cold, making them perfect candidates for winter gardening. Growing herbs in containers can also help manage their spread and makes them easily accessible for culinary use.

Feeding Citrus Trees

Since citrus trees bear fruit in cooler months, winter is the opportune time to nourish them with a specialised citrus fertiliser. This boosts their energy and productivity, ensuring a bountiful harvest.

Watering Wisely

Overwatering in winter can harm plants due to slower evaporation rates. Water plants only as needed, checking the soil’s moisture level frst. Consider setting up a drip irrigation system for a worry-free watering schedule.

INDOOR MICRO-GREENS

For garden enthusiasts looking to keep their fngers green indoors, micro greens offer a nutritious and easy-to-grow option. These can be grown on a kitchen bench without soil, using a growing mat for a clean, straightforward approach.

PREPARING SEEDS

The cooler months are an excellent time to start seeds indoors for vegetables like capsicum and tomatoes. This head start allows the seedlings to be robust and ready for transplanting to the garden when the weather warms.

PLANTING BULBS

Planting bulbs during winter sets the stage for early spring blossoms. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are great choices for adding bursts of colour to your garden as the weather begins to change.

WEEDING

Winter is a strategic time to tackle weeds, preventing them from taking over in the spring. Regular weeding of garden beds, lawns, and hard-to-reach places will make spring gardening much more manageable.

GET TO PREPARING!

Though winter may signal a quieter time in the garden, it presents a valuable opportunity to prepare for the next growing season. From pruning and mulching to planting and planning, winter activities ensure that your garden remains vibrant and productive year-round. By following these tips, you can enjoy the benefts of a well-maintained garden and look forward to a fruitful spring and summer.

Protecting you knees when gardening

Gardening offers a plethora of benefts, including stress relief, physical exercise, and the joy of nurturing plants. However, it’s a physically demanding activity that can put a strain on your knees. Protecting your knees is crucial to ensure that gardening remains a source of joy rather than pain. Here are some essential tips for keeping your knees safe and healthy:

USE KNEE PADS OR A

KNEELING PAD: Invest in a high-quality pair of knee pads or a kneeling pad to cushion your knees against the hard ground. These aids provide support and reduce the pressure on your knee joints when planting or weeding.

PRACTICE GOOD POSTURE:

Maintaining proper posture while gardening helps distribute your weight evenly and reduces strain on your knees. Ensure you’re bending correctly, using your legs rather than your back, and avoid staying in one position for too long.

TAKE REGULAR BREAKS:

Long periods of kneeling or squatting can exacerbate knee pain. It’s important to take frequent breaks, stand up, stretch, and walk around to keep your joints from stiffening up.

USE RAISED BEDS AND GARDEN TOOLS: Raised garden beds and long-handled tools can minimise the need to bend or kneel, signifcantly reducing the strain on your knees. They make gardening more accessible and enjoyable, especially for those with mobility issues.

Funeral Notice

WILKINSON Ian James “Wilko”

29.7.1953 – 8.3.2024 ose unable to attend with the family in person can do so via the live stream link: https://streaming.naoca.com.au/e/915a0dd6-be52-468a950e-189e821377f8?pin=6441

Passed away peacefully at Caroona Marima, Goonellabah, aged 70 years.

Loved partner of Julie for 36 years.

Cherished father to Michael, Kaye (Dec’d) Lucy, Joseph, and Alex, & their partners.

Adoring grandfather to Brittany, Taylia, Tyrese, Tyler (Dec’d), Tatum, and Elise.

Loved son of John and Joyce (both Dec’d).

Loved brother and brother in-law of Wendy & Geo (Dec’d) Marsh, Allan & Lynne (both Dec’d), and Kaye (Dec’d) & Tom Nolan.

Loved by the extended Wilkinson and Smart Families.

Family & Friends are invited to celebrate the life of Ian, “Wilko”, to be held at the chapel of the Lismore Memorial Gardens, Skyline Road, Goonellabah, Friday 15th March 2024 commencing at 2:00 PM.

Funeral Notice

Marion May Salt

nee Arnett

In loving memory of Marion Salt

Late of Murwillumbah, formerly of Lismore. Passed away peacefully on Saturday 9th March 2024 at Murwillumbah Hospital.

100 Years Young

Philip Dixon

Dearly loved Wife of Victor Robert Salt (decd.) Dearly Loved Mother and Mother-in-law of Judy (decd.) Stuart, Pam & Ross. Cherished Grandma of Darren, Matthew, Mark, David, Robert & Rachel.

Born on 15th June 1942 at Mullumbimby District Hospital. Passed away peacefully on Friday 18th December 2020 at e Tweed Hospital Aged 78 Years.

Loving Great-Grandmother of 13, Great-Great Grandmother of 3. Loved sister of Margaret.

Dearly loved son of Philip & Bessie Dixon (both dec’d), Philip was born 3 months a er his father’s death who was 30 years old at the time. Loved younger Brother of Lorna, Alan (dec’d) and Gordon.

Family and friends are warmly invited to attend Marion’s Funeral Service to be held at Lismore Memorial Gardens Chapel followed by a burial at Lismore Memorial Gardens on Tuesday 19th March 2024 at 12 noon (nsw time)

Family and Friends are warmly invited to attend Philip’s Funeral Service to be held at the Uniting Church, Dalley Street Mullumbimby, on Wednesday 6th January 2021, at 10.00 am (NSW).

In Celebration of Marion’s life, the family have asked to wear something blue.

A er the service, the cortege will leave for the Bangalow Cemetery, Pioneers Crescent Bangalow.

,,Biey FAMILY FUNERALS

Death Notice

Kenneth Russell Delany ‘Ken’

McGuiness Funerals Murwillumbah (02) 6672 2144

Warnings

See www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings

Northern Rivers District:

Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog inland. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening.

Thursday. Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog inland. Light winds.

Northern Tablelands District:

Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog on and east of the ranges. Slight chance of a shower in the north. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning.

Thursday. The chance of morning fog. Mostly sunny day. Winds easterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the morning.

New South Wales:

Shower or two about the southeast, with a possible shower about the far northern coast. Fine and mostly sunny elsewhere. Hot through the inland. Daytime temperatures above to well above average across most of the state. Light winds inland, tending to moderate to fresh easterly about the east.

Thursday. Shower or two about the southeast, most likely along the southern coastline and adjacent ranges. Mostly fine elsewhere. Hot across the inland and to the central coast. Daytime temperatures above to well above average across the state. North to northeasterly winds, tending southerly about the inland and southern and central coastline through the day.

Byron Coast:

Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming east to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots during the morning. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: East to northeasterly 2 to 2.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Coffs Coast:

Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming east to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots during the morning. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: East to northeasterly 2 to 2.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. Gold Coast Waters: Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 30 knots. Seas: 2 to 2.5 metres. Swell: Easterly 2.5 to 3 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers.

PERTH

Lismore Basketball Association

When the 2022 food receded in Lismore, the members of the Lismore Basketball Association breathed a sigh of relief that the waters had not gone past that fnal few steps to inundate their beloved stadium. Unfortunately, it soon became evident that precious over 40 year old timber foor didn’t get away unscathed.

As time went on after Lismore’s clean up, movement and bowing in the foor became an issue and investigations found that storm water and moisture under the building had caused irreversible damage.

March on two years and thanks to Local, State and Federal grants and funding work is currently underway to lay a brand new foor of local Blackbutt timber.

The project is expected to take 5 months which means that local competitions and representative teams have had to move up to GSAC in order to play and train. “We are so very grateful to Lismore City Council for accommodating us during one of our busiest times of the year”, said Association President Aaron Simpson. “Our representative teams started their season which means they have been training hard in the lead up.”

The relocation out of the stadium has meant signifcant extra cost to the Association which means that fees for representative

08.03.2024 BALLINA

MAHJONG

1.Lorna Simpson, 2.Pauline Kearney, 3. Susan Allan, 4. Wendy Thornton, 5. Joy Lowien, Ann Hewitt, 7. Lesley Ritchie, 8. Jan Boardman, 9. Jeanette Henwood, 10. Shirley Coleman, 11. June Greenaway, Diana Auret, Lynda Lovett, 14. Gail McDonagh, 15. Valda McLerie, 16. Lisa Wong, 17. Janene Jarvis, 18. Ramsay Roper, Val Heinritz, Jan Henley, Gladys D’Anna, Barbara Ellan, 23. Yvonne Weddup, 24. Margaret Bryant, 25. Jan Small, 26. Pam Farrell, 27. Shirley Atkinson, 28. Pauline Bolte, 29. Kath Hubbard, 30. Cindy Smith, 31. Coral Lavelle, 32. Jenny Lang, 33. Susan Scott, 34. Caro Lawless.

CASINO SOCIAL GOLF RESULTS 10-03-2024

The winner of the monthly medal was Dave Roberts with a net score of 29 from Bruce Yates 30. The putting trophy went to G.Randall with 19 putts and D.Diews Won the players draw. Nearest to pins: 8th, 10th & 14th, G.Randall. 11th, B.Yates. 12th, F.Bruni.15th,

G.Skennar. 16th, W.Jackson. 17th, D.Diews. 18th, G.Shephard. Next Sunday’s event sponsored by Richmond Valley Meats in the RSM Shopping Village Casino will be A 2 ball Mexican stableford on the bottom 10 holes and visitors are welcome to play with hit off from 6-30am till 7-30am.

CASINO WOMENS BOWLS RESULTS

On Wednesday 6/3 the semi fnals for the 2024 club triples championship was played, the winners were Jan Dwyer, Annette James & Maria Hellyar def Jan Cooke, Denise Skinner & Helen Lavelle.

In the other semi fnal game that was played the result was:

Marlene Jordan, Raelene Skirrey & Ivy Watson def

Nancy Moran, Denise Grice & Mary Mead in a very close result. The fnal is on Wednesday 13/3, congratulations ladies & good luck in the fnal.

On Friday 8/3 we held our Gala Day at Casino RSM club, a good day was had by all.

Cherry Street

players have also been impacted. To counteract this for many of the local families, some of whom were also affected by the food, the Association has embarked on a range of fundraising activities.

Thanks to the generosity of Splendour In The Grass and Jeremey Sheaffe Event Services the Association has been provided with two VIP Experience Splendour in the Grass tickets which they are currently raffing online. “We are so grateful for this kind donation and we are aiming to raise as much as possible to help out our families this season”, said Aaron. Teams undertake signifcant travel to represent Lismore over multiple weekends. This all means high fuel and accommodation costs for everyone involved.

The raffe which can be accessed by visiting https://www.raffetix. com.au/?ref=g68tt is only $5 per ticket and will be drawn on Friday 12 April. Prizes include

2 x VIP Splendour in the Grass tickets for July 19, 20 & 21, 1 x $200 Visa Card and 1 x $100 Visa Card.

“Our kids and their families will be grateful for any funds raised and we can’t wait to hear the sound of basketballs bouncing on our brand new timber foor soon” said Aaron.

For more information visit the Lismore Basketball Association Facebook page or www. lismorebasketball. com.au

Croquet Club Sports

RESULTS

ASSOCIATION

CROQUET:

G.Porter 26 d G.Drew 11

RICOCHET CROQUET:

R.Allen N.Watts 10 d J.Doust J.Hannigan

4, B.Bill P.Scott 15 d P.Bolte N.Barnes 9, R.Poynting N.Poynting 12 d D.Scott C.Woodlands 11, W.Gilmore D.Scott 10 d N.Barnes N.Poynting 9, D.Jones 8 d B.Bill 5, J.Doust R.Allen 14 d B.Wellings 12, P. Scott R.Poynting 10 d R.Sparks R.Chapman 5

Club Championships: Handicap Singles D.Scott 17 d C.Edlund 6, D.Jones 11 d M.Russell 7, N.Watts 15 d J.Hannigan 14, Handicap Doubles, N.Watts M.Russell 14 d P.Bolte J.Hannigan 10

Pennants Division 2 : Cherry Street 5 d, Ballina 5, Alstonville 7 d Lismore 3, Casino v Byron Bay washed out.

CROQUET FOR KIDS: Commences Tuesday 9th April 4 pm / 5pm.

Age Required 10 years plus.

Free Lessons, All equipment supplied.

Enquiries & Registration

Contact

Robyn Poynting 0414700512

CORAKI VETERANS GOLF RESULTS

THURSDAY 7/3/24

Monthly medal for march was played today medal winner T Woods, vets winner J Voght, 2nd K Osborne, 3rd P Sudgen free game J Sheridan, chicken/ball winners G Flaherty, D Knox, M Bruggy, S McDonough, I Welch, P Bruggy, D Vagne, B Micheal, J Nilsson, S Reddell, J Lassig, P Brophy,R Mackay. Nearest pins 3rd/12th I Welch, 6th/15th G Gibson, putting comp, J Voght, J Nilsson, B McDonald.

Next Thursday will be an 18hole single stableford and please remember we are still hitting off at 8.00am for the month of March.

AS USUAL TILL THEN GOOD GOLFING

CROQUET FOR JUNIORS

CHERRY STREET CROQUET

CLUB BALLINA COMMENCING 9TH

APRIL 4PM / 5PM

The Cherry Street

Croquet Club Ballina along with support from all members and the Cherry Street Sports Club are opening up their lawns for juniors to come learn, play, enjoy the gentle sport of Croquet.

The game over recent years has been dominated by the elderly and the Club feels it is time to bring Croquet to juniors to enjoy as a sport for the young children in the community.

Play days will be Tuesday afternoons 4pm to 5pm with age limit required10 years plus.

The sport is non contact, outdoors, fun, laughter, enjoyable, mentally stimulating, and requires minimal effort.

The juniors will be well catered for with free lessons by accredited State coaches David Scott, Ray Chapman, Robyn Poynting, Debbie Jones.

Also Work with Children Members certifed..

Pauline Bolte, Robbie Allen, Greg Porter accredited to assist.

All equipment supplied for juniors.

We welcome all young juniors to come along lean and play.

Enquiries and Registration

Contact :

Robyn Poynting

0414700512

Ray Chapman

0439240251

Evans Head Womens Bowls

Ladies Social Day - 0603-24 - Fours - Winners - B. Hancock, S. Maxwell, K. Hickey, V. Hart.

Winter Triples. 2023/2024 were fnalised 28-02-24 after 7 Rounds of play + Bye each.

Winners - J. Beckett, M. Gibson/L. Stratton, S. Downs. 5W, 1L Runners/up- M. McPherson, A. Eyles, V. Hart. 3W, 3L+13

Third place - V. Forshaw, K. Robson, P. Freeman. 3W, 3L +5

Friendship prize - S. Maxwell/K. Hickey (sub), M. Carey, J. Fernance.

Fours Championship First Round played 06-03-24 - L. Vidler/B. Parkes (sub), A. Eyles, G. Marczan, M. Carey defeated B. Cameron, M. Gibson, A. Viney, S. Downs. Round 2 to be played 13-03-24.

The from back page

BURLEIGH HEADS, QLD (10th March, 2024): Burleigh Heads has turned it on for the Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle

Grand Final with 30,000 spectators lining the famous point-break to watch the home town heroes take the win.

Building four-to-six foot swell, a strong sweep and an increase in heat times gave way to plenty of exciting and dramatic moments.

In the end it was a series of big scores that set Burleigh Boardriders on a path to success.

Maddy Job (6.67), Thomas Woods (8.00), Jay “Bottle” Thompson (6.67) and TomWhitpaine (6.27) forcing Torquay, North Shore, LeBa, Noosa and North Shelly to play catch up throughout the fnal.

Isla Huppatz was a standout for the winning team, posting an excellent 9.27 ride - the highest wave score of the event - with a strong frst turn, that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

“When I came in on the beach and was running up the hill and barely breathing everyone was like come on Isla. It literally got me up the hill. I’m so proud of the club and everything they’ve given me,” she said.

Burleigh’s Open surfer, Thomas Woods said: “It’s been an epic weekend. The whole run is a great aspect even though I’m defnitely not built for it these days. My legs are shot, I’m done. Would not be able to do another turn.”

Hughie Vaughan scored an excellent 8.90 with a sequence of strong manoeuvres to keep North Shelly Boardriders in contention. Ellie Harrison from Torquay Boardriders also posted an impressive 8.40, but in the end, it wasn’t enough for either team to overtake Burleigh.

Then in a ftting fnale, as Burleigh’s power surfer, Maddy Job made his triumphant ascent up Hyundai Hill, the skies opened up. After struggling in recent years to even make a fnal, the drought has fnally broken for Burleigh.

Earlier in the day, Bryon Bay’s power surfer, Soli Bailey caused controversy when he exited the water over rocks instead of the beach and was handed a penalty, only to double-back and complete the course properly. The penalty was later reversed but it wasn’t enough for the defending champions to make it through to the semis.

There were major upsets too for powerhouse clubs, North Narrabeen and Snapper Rocks, knocked out in the quarterfnals.

World champion surfer, Joel Parkinson, said: “I surf for my club (Snapper Rocks) and that’s about all I do now. I love it. The pressure is intense but you just gotta try push that aside and do the job at hand. Burleigh is the best place for surfng events and being close to home is really special.”

Surfng legend, Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, who has lived on the Gold Coast all his life, said: “All our point breaks are world famous and we’re blessed to live here really.

“Burleigh is the king today and I tell you what it’s merciless. There’s always been a run element in the ABB but this year is just next level. You have to have some ironman qualities about you and it’s a big test for everyone.

“Club surfng is really an institution in Australia. A lot of clubs here are 60 years old plus. Surfers representing their club is a big deal. Some surfers seriously grow a foot taller when they put their club colours on.”

The pumping conditions and sunny skies made for an action-packed weekend of surfng and activities for athletes and spectators alike, to enjoy.

Gold Coast Mayor, Tom Tate, said: “Our iconic Burleigh break certainly turned on its magic this weekend, providing the ultimate stage for the nation’s best surfers from 42 clubs around Australia.

“We were thrilled to secure the Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final for the Gold Coast this year and I want to congratulate all the winners and competitors. The best bit… we get to welcome back this exciting competition in 2025 and 2026, with the city locked in to host the Grand Final for three years. Bring it on!”

Specialty Awards:

• Electric Air Show Award (individual) - Aaron Kelly

• Electric Air Show Award (club)Noosa BRC

• Jim Beam Club Spirit Award - Burleigh Boardriders

• Le Tan Breakthrough Award - Tom Woods

• Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew Medal - Tully Wylie

• Layne Beachley Medal - Isla Huppatz 2024 Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final results:

• 1st Burleigh BRC41.25 pts

• 2nd North Shelly BRC - 33.17 pts

• 3rd LeBa BRC31.67 pts

• 4th North Shore BRC - 30.76 pts

• 5th Noosa BRC26.91 pts

• 6th Torquay BRC25.24 pts

The Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final is proudly supported by naming partner Hyundai and major partners ACCIONA, Jim Beam, Le Tan, BC™ Bars and Oakley.

The Hyundai ABB Grand Final is supported by Experience Gold Coast and Destination Gold Coast and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

Our other event sponsors include Burleigh Pavilion, QMS Media, Murf Bikes, Surfboard Empire, the Gold Coast Bulletin, Tempus One and Merlo Coffee.

The Cherry Street Croquet Club Ballina along with support from all members and the Cherry Street Sports Club are opening up their lawns for juniors to come learn, play, enjoy the gentle sport of Croquet.

The game over recent years has been dominated by the elderly and the Club feels it is time to bring Croquet to juniors to enjoy as a sport for the young children in the community.

Play days will be Tuesday afternoons 4pm to 5pm with age limit required10 years plus. The sport is non contact, outdoors, fun, laughter, enjoyable, mentally stimulating, and requires minimal effort.

The juniors will be well catered for with free lessons by accredited State coaches David

Scott, Ray Chapman, Robyn Poynting, Debbie Jones.

Also Work with Children Members certifed Pauline Bolte, Robbie Allen, Greg Porter accredited to assist. All equipment supplied for juniors.

We welcome all young juniors to come along lean and play.

Enquiries and Registration Contact :

Robyn Poynting

0414700512

Ray Chapman

0439240251

By Tim Howard

Harwood has snared the frst grand fnal spot in the Clarence Valley frst grade cricket competition with an imperious 214run hammering of its closest rival, Lawrence at Harwood Oval over the weekend.

Harwood dominated the game from the outset amassing 9/314 from 96 overs and rumbling Lawrence for 110.

It was a team effort from Harwood, built around a patient top score of 65 from Hayden McMahon.

But he had plenty of helpers.

First drop Coby Tabor chipped in with 43 and Troy Turner, lower down the order, capitalised on the team’s good position to hit a brisk 42 from 45 balls.

Skipper Ben McMahon, 37, opener Maison Simmons, 33 and Duncan Fisher, 31 all helped contribute to the massive total.

In the face of this batting wall, Lawrence toiled hard in the feld.

Ben Shaw, 3/69 had the pick of the fgures, Doug Harris, 2/74 whirled down 24 overs of his off spinners, but couldn’t make the sort of breakthroughs needed to halt the Harwood juggernaut.

Nathan Anderson, 2/60 and Chris Townson, 2/54 bowled consistently, but failed to ask enough questions of the Harwood batting.

Chasing the mammoth total Lawrence were never in it.

Consistent opener Ben Hill fell for a second-ball duck and from there, things only got worse for Lawrence. Normally a punishing batter, Mark Ensbey, 18 was forced to drop anchor as wickets tumbled around him.

He had weathered the storm of the opening attack, but found Ben McMahon 4/41 a different prospect, hitting a catch to Corey Lewis after 81 balls of stubborn resistance.

Doug Harris, 19, was the only other batter to offer much resistance as Ben McMahon’s seam bowling and his brother Jacob’s spin worked their way through the Lawrence lower order.

The match was a blueprint for the grand fnal, with Harwood showing the value of batting frst, compiling partnerships and exerting that scoreboard pressure with the ball.

At Ellem Oval, Grafton, the elimination fnal between last season’s premiers GDSC Easts and Tucabia Copmanhurst was a low-scoring affair that showcased the all round talents of Tucabia’s Rohan Hackett.

Hackett’s 30 was one of the few highlights of Tucabia’s modest total of 139 all out.

For Easts it was their all-rounder, Shannon Connor who starred with the ball, taking 5/42 from 26 overs.

For Tucabia, a lower order 30no from Dylan Lucas proved vital for his team’s chances.

Easts’ batters could not follow through on the fne bowling effort, collapsing to be all out for 109 in the 35th over.

Hackett, was in irresistible form with the ball, taking 7/41 from 17.1 overs.

Connor, with a relatively sedate 29, was the best of the Easts batting in a disappointing overall effort.

Matt Lobsey, 22 and Aiden Tredinnick, 24, made a late-order rally but when Tredinnick was run out with the score at 98, the innings folded quickly.

Tucabia’s second innings was a totally different affair.

Thomas Cootes, 71no and veteran Matt Pigg, 50, saw off any threat of an outright win to Easts, which has missed its chance to defend its premiership.

This weekend the preliminary fnal will pit the consistent Lawrence outft against the more mercurial Tucabia side.

Hackett’s seven-wicket haul is a warning to all that he is back to his best after a serious arm injury stopped him from bowling for a long period.

Always capable of bowling at impressive speed, he’s now got the nous gained from years of experience to work over batters looking for weaknesses.

Lawrence in a similar fashion to Harwood has impressed with its determination to bat out the overs.

It failed to do that against Harwood and found chasing a big score put too much pressure on its batters.

Tucabia has not scored consistently through the season so does not come into the game with the batting frepower that Harwood possesses.

Once again the game will be played over the Saturday and Sunday of the weekend, with play starting at 12.30pm and 10.25am.