Saturday, 21st April 2012 saw the opening game of the season at The Vineyard, in a 40 Over friendly against Instonians who won by 4wickets.  The weather was typical for the opening game – all seasons on the one day --bright sunshine, clouds, rain, cold and wind – all that was missing was the snow.
 
The Hills won the toss and elected to bat and lost the first wicket in the 5th over with the score on 18, and 10 of those were courtesy of the opposition bowlers, with opener Mark Dwyer caught for 0.  Daryll Calder and Mike Baumgart made steady progress to take the score to 48 before Daryll was out caught by Andrew White for 20 off the last ball of the 14th over.

Things then went pear shaped because Baumy was out the 1st ball of the next over, again caught Andrew White for 15. Making his Hills debut Nicolaas Pretorius lasted only 4 balls and 2 runs before the dreaded finger of umpire McGeehan (the senior one) decided he should depart lbw. That was 50 for 4 off 15 overs.  Next up and out was Tomás Murphy, again lbw after only 2 balls.  51 for 5 in the 16th over. 

Jono Andrews making his Hills debut, joined Captain Nazeer Shoukat next, and they added 13 more runs before Jono was bowled. Nazeer was playing steadily all the while and when Manu Kumar was out for 15, stumped, the score had progressed to 103. Luke Clinton was next but departed for 3 in the 30th over.  Howard McDonnell was also out lbw for 5 in the 33rd over, and the total reading 133.  This left Nazeer and Andrew Moore to try to get the total to a more defendable score.  Nazeer deservedly made his 50, but was finally out caught by Instonians captain Moleon, after making 59. Andrew finished on 5 not out.  The Hills had made a very modest 158 off 37.2 overs.
 
The Instonians innings started well for The Hills, and the score was 17 for 3 by the end of the 7th over, and the absence of Max Sorensen through injury was not looking to be a issue.  Skipper Nazeer had bowled 4 overs for 3 runs and 2 wickets (2 wicket maidens), and Tomás Murphy had bowled James Shannon for 0. 

When the 4th wicket of Andrew White fell for 26, after he was caught by Manu Kumar off Jono Andrews first ball, spirits were high that The Hills could defend their small total.  Not to be however, as first Instonians new Pro Mick Delaney and captain Eugene Moleon took the score to 81 before Delaney was lbw to McDonnell for 32, and then Zac Rushe helped the score along 144 before Moleon retired (fed up as suggested by a well known Hills supporter!!!) on 54. With only 15 runs required and 10 overs in which to get them the game was over. Instonians finished on 159 for 6 off 32.3 overs and won comfortably by 4 wickets.
 
For The Hills, some work to do.  The fielding was excellent over all, but some of the bowling was best described as loose.  The Hills again gave away wickets cheaply through some bad shot selection and execution.  Nazeer Shoukat was undoubtedly the star of the show scoring 59 off 58 balls including 7 fours and 1 six, and bowling 8 overs for 13 runs and 3 wickets including 3 maidens.

For Instonians the bowling prize went to S Shannon who bowled 4.2 overs for 15 runs and 4 wickets. Batting, the skipper Moleon led by example making 54 before retiring and he was well supported by Delaney with 32 and Rushe with 29.