The Butchers comprehensively outplayed defending premiers Balgownie to claim an eight-wicket victory on Saturday and soar to the top of the table.

After the bowlers set the platform for victory with a disciplined display last weekend that saw the Magpies bowled out for 121, the batsmen took over on Saturday to secure the result. 

Joseph McDevitt led the charge, scoring a brilliant 103* to lead his side to 2-174 when the match was called at tea. 

Unsurprisingly, Marsh is thrilled with where his team is sitting ahead of the break over Australia Day next weekend. 

“The boys are just stoked,” Marsh said. “We haven’t beaten Bally for a long time, to do it like that was special.

“I’m not sure the last time Northern Districts was on top in first grade. Even when we won in 2001, I’m not sure we were ever on top of the table, we just won the grand final. There’s a pretty good feeling around the club at the moment.

“We’ve got a lot of depth in the club, so when we’re missing players we’ve managed to fill spots with blokes who can perform at first grade level.”

The Butchers may have been chasing just 121 on Saturday, however, given the quality of Balgownie’s bowling unit, Marsh ensured his batsmen were focused from the first ball.

That they were, with overnight batsmen Jonathan Fowles and McDevitt combining to add a further 83 runs to the total before Balgownie were finally able to break through, dismissing Fowles for 55. 

“We talked about not losing early wickets, that was a huge focus for us. Bally are a team that if they get sniff, they can get on a role, so that was our main focus. We knew if we didn’t lose a wicket in the first 20 overs, it would be in our hands and their heads would drop.

“That was the plan, and we executed perfectly.”

“Joey was outstanding. It was a chance-less innings and there weren’t too many periods where he was bogged down. It was a really good innings.”

The Butchers can owe part of their rise to the top of the ladder to Wests, who were able to defeat previous pace-setters Wollongong. Udara Jayasundara top-scored with 73 as he steered his team to victory.

Corrimal were lucky to escape Rex Jackson Oval with just a first-innings defeat, after Helensburgh came within a whisker of claiming an outright victory. 

Luke Falkiner took 10 wickets for the match, as Corrimal were bowled out for 42 in their first innings and desperately held on to avoid the outright defeat, reaching 9-113 at stumps.

University also capitalised on an impressive opening day, bowling Dapto out for 181 to claim a 109-run win. 

Keira ensured they remain in the finals hunt with a win over Port Kembla thanks to a Troy Gasseling half-century.