The Bloods batted first but were in trouble after James Davies made an early breakthrough.

James Prendergast followed it up with three wickets off a fiery 12-over spell that included the prized scalp of Roberts for 32.

When spinner Cam McDonell, returning from injury, took the first of his two wickets for the match, the opposition was 6-99.

A rain delay late in the day gave Springvale South some breathing space and it was able to fight back to be 8-198 at stumps on the first day.

Berwick's turf 2 bowlers battled a flat wicket, a fast outfield, and a dominant Springvale South batting line up that amassed 4-300 off a rain-restricted 78 overs.

New-ball bowler Carl Sutton toiled for 1-47 off 16 overs. Dave Dalzottoa was the best of the bowlers with 1-22 off 11 overs. Brendan Lloyd and his spinning partner Adam Watson carried much of the workload in the middle stages, Lloyd taking 1-67 off 19 overs.

A change in the top order paid dividends for A grade against Keysborough. Skipper Andrew Mazzagatti led the way with 36. Dean Holden made a quickfire 22. Michael Dalzotto top-scored with a half century that included six fours and two towering sixes. But it was the turn of the tail, which had carried the batting over the past few weeks, to crumble. From 3-135, the Bears crashed to be all out for 178.

With 16 overs to bowl before the end of play, Berwick's bustling quick Rod Mead, in his first game with the club, took two wickets to get his side back into the match.

Honours were shared on day one of B grade's match against Parkfield, which was dismissed for 219.

Andrew Taylor took 1-22 off 12 impressive overs, Tim Renwick bowled a marathon 18 overs for 2-55, Michael Fowkes 2-49, Trevor McGeachin 2-50, and Geoff Wilcock 2-26.

The Bears had the opposition 7-199 but were unable to deliver a killer blow.

With three overs remaining, Berwick's openers were untroubled at stumps on day one.