Kookaburras take to premiers

The opening round of the South Coast cricket season threw up plenty of excitement with last season's premiers Oak Flats starting their campaign for back to back titles off with a loss after being toppled by a young Warilla outfit.

In other games Albion Park, The Rail and Lake Illawarra had little trouble in getting their campaigns off to winning starts.

A lightning 77 from Oak Flats skipper Kerry Penfold was not enough to stop a resurgent Warilla taking the points in their opening round fixture as he and Ryan Chatterton (43) combined to put together an impressive 9-237 despite Warilla's Gerard Healey's impressive 4-38 with the ball.

Putting an end to any hopes of a full game, persistent rain saw a reduced total with Warilla chasing 196 off 42 overs.

Despite an impressive start with the ball, Oak Flats were soon on the back foot as Warilla's star batsman Nathan Docker combined with Adam Foskitt for a 96 run partnership before two quick wickets threatened to swing the game back towards the rats.

However a very impressive unbeaten 31 from new recruit Allen Sullivan steadied the ship for the kookaburra's allowing them to sneak home with a superior run rate.

Shellharbour started this season where they left off last year after suffering a 184 run loss at the hands of Albion Park.

Batting first Albion Park amassed a handy 7-267 with Hayden McKay narrowly missing out on a century after being dismissed for 97. Neil Schofield and Dan Abela both added support however McKay was the pick of the batsman as he tore the heart out of the Shellharbour attack.

Set a formidable target, Shellharbour cracked under the considerable pressure combining for a measly 83 runs with opener Andrew Ryan top scoring on 12. After missing out with the bat Graeme Smith was the pick of the bowlers taking 3-11. Smith received considerable support from both Troy Burns and Adam Sharp as they quickly wrapped up proceedings.

Jamberoo were on the end of a hiding from one of the title favourites in Lake Illawarra as they lost their rain affected match on superior run rate.

Set a revised target of 132, Lake Illawarra were never in trouble as they cruised to an easy eight wicket victory. Brendan White had an impressive game with both the bat and the ball, after taking 3-14 the diminutive all rounder backed it up with an impressive 24 as he and fellow batsman Sam Constatinou (33) had little trouble in wrapping up the game for the home team.

Keith Meadows was the best for the "?Roo as he made an fighting 41 while partners dropped around him.

In the other game of the opening round The Rail took advantage of the rain to post a clinical home victory over Kiama.

Kiama captain Dale Scifleet (48) and Andrew Ross (49) combined well to set rail a challenging 212 before the presence of a lightning storm saw the total reduced to 130 from 27 overs.

Rail lost only five wickets in chasing down the total as Daniel Stevenson continued an impressive game with both the bat and the ball making a handy 33 to lead the run chase.