The match was billed as second versus third but the Tigers ensured it was all one-way traffic from the beginning. 

Captain Mitch McCrae laid the groundwork for victory with a superb 161 last weekend and Tim Lloyd ensured McCrae’s hard-work would not go undone, tearing through the Keira batting lineup with figures of 5-35 to bowl the Lions out for 67.

With a chance to continue the Tigers feeding frenzy, McCrae enforced the follow-on. This time, however, Keira were able to dig in and prevent Helensburgh from securing the outright victory.

“It was a good win,” McCrae said. “We batted pretty well last week and we bowled pretty well yesterday [Saturday] as well. We had to make them play early and try to take wickets with the new ball. It’s hard to chase a big total, so early wickets was our goal.”

Keira captain Kyle Connor top-scored for the Lions. However batting at number nine, Connor’s 20* was a case of too little too late. 

“Tim bowled really well,” McCrae said. “He’s bowled pretty well all year, and bowled really well in the first innings, he got us off to a good start.

“He was putting the ball in a pretty good area. The wicket was doing a bit with the new ball and Luke Falkiner bowled well up the other end as well. He only got one wicket, but he helped build the pressure from the other end.”

Connor was disappointed with his team’s performance, but he is confident they can bounce back in next week’s regular season finale against Northern Districts. 

“We didn’t bat very well,” Connor said. “Thumbs up to them, they did a good job in the conditions and were too strong for us.

“I’d rather get that out of our system before the big games come around. It’s a slight hiccup, but we’ll definitely back ourselves to bounce back next week.”

In other games, fourth-placed University recovered from 5-68 to reach 9(dec)-178 and claim first-innings points against Corrimal. Ben Page (47) guided the team to 8-143 before Rhys Voysey (16*) and Joshua Norris (16) ensured Uni would finish the day sitting in fourth-place.

Wollongong held onto fifth position after bowling Northern Districts out for 135. Chasing 291, Joel Gray ensured the Butchers run chase was on the back-foot from the very first over.

Gray removed Jonathan Fowles and Patrick Rees for ducks in the opening over of the innings, finishing with three wickets. David Wood then claimed four wickets to steer his side to victory. 

Both Dapto and Balgownie entered Saturday with first-innings points already secured and the two sides claimed outright victories.

Dapto kept their finals hopes alive after bowling Wests out for 213 in the second innings and cruising to 3-145 and the win. 

Balgownie claimed the competition’s minor premiership with a six-wicket victory over ninth-placed Port Kembla.