Pride and silverware went on the line last weekend when the top juniors battled it out for the ultimate glory in the under age Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association seasons.

Rain may have spoiled the Under 14’s fun, but fans were treated to hours of quality cricket by the youngsters.

The action kicked off Thursday night when the Sims and O’Donohue Shields were up for grabs.

The youngest battle was held at Yahl’s Steeline Park where the South Gambier Maroon and Millicent Under 12 sides contested a low-scoring nailbiter.

Minor premier Millicent batted first and suffered the wobbles early on when Ari Robbins and Klaye Kenny were removed for two-ball ducks by Samuel Ellis and Jock McClure respectively.

After remaining opener Cruz Gibson was run out, Millicent needed to stabilise the innings quickly or its premiership hopes were about to be blown away.

Captain Ryder Lindner took matters into his own hands by launching a quick-fire 14 to generate some momentum with Levi Robbins (15) by his side.

Although the Demons continued to chip away taking wickets at key times, Millicent’s lower order showed enough fight to spend valuable time at the crease to keep the scoreboard moving.

Paddy Fitzgerald and Pacey Duldig soaked up a cumulative total of 71 balls to resist South and help Millicent post 8/96 from 26.4 overs.

Joel Clayfield was easily the pick of the bowlers by taking two wickets without conceding a run in his 2.4 overs.

It set the scene for a tense run chase with both teams in the game, but the Demons top order did its best to silence any nerves.

Jock McClure was dominant against the new ball smashing a run-a-ball 34, while Jagger Geary offered strong support.

After just 34 balls the pair had blazed 45 runs for the first wicket and Millicent needed to find a breakthrough fast.

Cruz Gibson answered the call beating the defences of Geary on 12 which brought the bowlers back into the game.

Once Paddy Fitzgerald claimed the wicket of McClure and Cooper Fear fell in the following over, South opened the door for its opponents to sneak back into contention at 4/72.

Handy contributions from Blake Schroder and Joshua Haggett stopped Millicent’s momentum and brought the Demons to the edge of glory.

But a double-wicket assault from Klaye Kenny brought the game alive with South slipping to seven down with four more runs still remaining for victory.

But Cruiz McGregor remained composed and smashed a boundary to bring up a memorable three-wicket win.

Millicent entered the Under 17’s big dance at Frew Park with high expectations after a near-flawless home-and-away campaign, but was stunned by a South Gambier side on a mission.

Under sunny skies on Thursday night Millicent enjoyed first use of the Frew Park surface and made capitalised by going big.

Captain Jacob Todd got off to a flyer before Robbie Case ended his fun, but Sam Hunt and Kallan Bevan picked up where their leader left off.

Hunt fired the partnership away with back-to-back boundaries as the Demons’ attack had no answers.

Bevan was the aggressor, smoking 26 runs from 38 balls while Hunt was slightly more watchful, but just as effective compiling an unbeaten 28.

By the time Archie Milich finally found the breakthrough, the scoreboard read 2/108 with Millicent in a near impregnable position.

After the retirement of Hunt, Millicent continued to assert its dominance before a mix-up turned the game on its head.

Nicholas Scott had been building a stand with Riley Redway until Elwood Geary and Prior teamed up to run out the former.

The unexpected wicket created a ridiculous collapse as Millicent wilted from 2/132 to all out 148.

Case was the golden arm behind the craziness taking 4/23 from 9.5 overs, while Noah Maxwell also chipped in with a couple of poles.

The dramatic passage of play underneath the setting sun handed South all of the momentum heading into the second and final day.

But Millicent’s attack was not going to go down without a fight and only needed five balls to make a statement.

Bevan knocked over Case for a three-ball duck to bring the game to life.

However, the cool heads of Kuhl and Prior stood tall amid the pressure-packed environment to bat Millicent into submission.

The bowlers threw everything at the pair, but flayed each challenge brutally.

Kuhl steadily cruised to 32 before retiring, while Prior was in peak form blasting a 45-ball half century.

Their work meant by the time Millicent finally found success restricting South captain Geary for a two-ball duck, the bowlers were left with the tall order of trying to take the final eight wickets inside 50 runs.

Despite Sam Domaschenz also falling cheaply, Millicent’s fading hopes were dashed by Jacob Salmon and Noah Maxwell.

The pair’s proactive work ensured South eased home to a convincing six-wicket win with 11.5 overs remaining.

Prior was named man of the match for his outstanding half century.

After two disappointing defeats before the weekend, Millicent had one last chance to snag some silverware in the Under 14’s Grand Final at Malseed Park.

Millicent had been the benchmark team throughout the Hall Trophy season and carried plenty of confidence into the big one.

This was evident for all to see as the ladder leaders piled on a formidable 8/201 on the opening day.

The entire top seven all had their say building solid scores to grind the Mil Lel bowlers into the dirt.

The charge was led by captain Ashton Lindner, who was in fine form racing to an unbeaten 51 off just 45 balls.

Heading into the second day Mil Lel had a mountain to climb, but the run chase was called off after a huge storm saturated Mount Gambier on Sunday morning.

The game could not be completed with lightning a major issue, which ensured Millicent secured a deserved premiership in bitter-sweet style.