After a tight, one-wicket loss to Easts in round one, Jackson called for more patience with the bat for the clash against Hillgrove. 

Things seemed to be going to plan with openers Troy Martin and Shane Wolfenden putting away a few early boundaries before they were dismissed by Hillgrove’s Sean Skinner on 19 and 17.

The next two batsmen, in BJ Cameron and Matt Finlay, fell cheaply followed by Ben Jackson on one. 

Demielle Landsborough followed for 12, Charlie White for 11 and Guyra were in disarray at 7-67. 

In stepped the experienced Mitch Woods along with his skipper.

Woods hung around for a solid 22 runs while Jackson notched up 58 including nine fours and a six. 

Tyson Burey kept the momentum in his side’s favour with 21 and Guyra were back in control with 176 on the board. 

Ball-in-hand, Guyra found themselves in control early with Hillgrove opener Matt Baillie dismissed for two with Woods taking the wicket. 

The Guyra bowling line-up kept inflicting damage to Hillgrove’s batting line-up, eventually dismissing the side for 106.

Hillgrove skipper Matt Schaefer picked up half of the wickets for his side with the ball and stepped up against with the bat in scoring nearly half of his side’s runs with 50 not out.

While they finished the day strong, Jackson wants the Guyra team to step up again and demonstrate more patience when the second day’s play gets underway this weekend. 

“A big thing for us is we don't get complacent and think just because we have won first innings, we have won,” he said. 

“As good as it was to get first innings last week we all have got to realise Hillgrove could turn around and win and leave us with nothing next week so we have got to make sure we go out and continue to get plenty of runs on the board and not really give them a chance.

“I would rather see us bat out the day and not give them the chance of any outright than us not have a go at outright.”

While Schaefer’s innings was a clear standout, Jackson was thrilled with his team’s effort with the ball. 

“I am more proud of the team because we bowled out the Hillgrove batting attack,” he said. 

“That is probably one of the best batting line-ups they have had in the last five years and we were able to bowl them out for 106 so that was a pretty good effort on our behalf.

“We had Jake Ellis home who was one of Guyra's best bowlers last year and he couldn't get a role.

“He didn't have the chance to get a spell because Mitch Woods and Tyson did the damage.”

Jackson is in his first season back at Guyra after a stint at Easts.

He said it is “fantastic” to be back and loves calling the Guyra turf his home ground. 

“You get up there and you just get so much support,” he said. 

“People just drive past, I think anywhere from five to 15 cars pulled up as they were going past on the weekend just to call in and watch or say g'day and support the local team, that is the best part about it. 

“I love playing up there. 

“I am looking forward to a lot more home games up there.”