SOME Christmas cheer and the return of some familiar faces proved to be the right recipe for Souths, who recorded their first win of the Whitney Cup season with an 83-run dismantling of Macquarie at Lady Cutler 2 on Saturday.
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Missing the likes of Tim Berry and Matt Finlay, the Hornets called in the experienced Aaron Etcell and young gun Toby Morgan, but it was Etcell's old partner in crime John Colwell that stole the show.
After Macquarie fast bowler Adam Thurlow ripped through the Hornets top order to leave them 5/42, Colwell (63) combined with Mick Daly (41) for a valuable 100-run stand which ended when the 'Master Blaster' was caught and bowled off the bowling of Joe Haylock.
Etcell added 16 and Justin Knudsen made 28 as Souths scrambled their way to a competitive total of 210.
Thurlow was clearly the pick of Macquarie's bowlers, taking 5/30 from 5.3 overs, including the first four wickets of the game.
With a defendable total up their sleeves Souths came out with some real vigour in the field and after four overs they had removed Jason Green (0), Andrew Page (8) and Wade Burrowes (1) to leave the Blues 3-14.
Batting at four, Ben Page batted well to make 30 but he received little assistance as wickets constantly fell.
After Page was removed Declan Hoare (17) and Joe Haylock (22) both made handy contributions but it was never going to be enough as Macquarie were rolled for just 127.
Scott Tucker (3/17) was the best of the Souths bowlers while Colwell, Morgan and Adam Carr each took two wickets.
Carr finished with 2/2 from 0.5 overs, removing Ed Haylock and Oliver Hoare in consecutive balls but unfortunately, even if he strikes with the next ball he delivers, it won't count as an official hat-trick.
