Groth just fell just one run short of a first-up half-century as Souths defeated Bective-East by 41 runs.

"It was good. [I'm] Pretty pleased really considering the conditions," Groth said.

"I think most guys thought we weren't going to play. It's always hard to get up for those games when you don't know if you're going to play or not."

Scheduled for Riverside 2, the game was moved to Riverside 5 and shortened to 36 overs. Batting first Souths made 167, Mitch Smith (34) and Travis Ling (30) setting the foundation with a 48-run stand for the second wicket.

"Mitch sort of did his thing and picked up from last season. He had a great season last season," Groth said.

"Travis waited for the bad ball and when he got that bad ball he put it away."

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Groth (49) and Caleb McNeill (27) then built on that, adding 66 for the fourth wicket.

"I just thought it was one of those wickets were if you just try to noodle it around you'd probably get out," Groth said.

"I took the approach to hit the ball hard and put the pressure on some of their part-time bowlers."

Knowing they still had a bit of batting to come, he was able to play with a bit if freedom.

The mode of his dismissal had a touch of irony about it with the keeper stumped by Tom Haling. It was "a good bit of keeping" but he was a bit dirty about it.

Quicks Angus McNeill and Brian Warren then led the charge with three wickets apiece as they dismissed the Bulls for 126.

Lachie Barton was the shining light with the bat for the Bulls with 45, skipper Jye Paterson the next best with 25.

"We knew if we kept taking the odd wicket it was going to get harder and harder," Groth said.

And as the run-rate climbed and the pressure built the wickets tumbled, the Bulls losing their last seven wickets for 43 runs.

He said McNeill (3-35), Warren (3-25) and Jamie Hammond (1-20) all bowled really well, their efforts a credit to the amount of work they've been putting in.

McNeill particularly has been able to do a lot more work in the pre-season, a change in his work circumstances meaning he can get to training and also play regularly.

Luke Paterson (3-39) and Adam Jones (3-2) were the best with the ball for the Bulls.

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