Playing on a synthetic wicket after a few days of rain, Robertson won the toss and batted first, for the first time all season.

The Spuds destructive opening pair Ben Wright (2) and Scott Shepherd (8), failed to fire as last year’s grand finalists stumbled to 2-13.

“The cowboys went in first, but it didn’t work out this week,” Wright said.

“We were 2-13 when Aaron and I joined up and we said would just bat for time and knock the ball around for a while.”

And that they did.

The pair worked the ball around nicely to take Robertson to 2-131, before Wright was bowled for 66 and de Jager also knocked over on 41.

Robertson were all out not long after for 181 in the 41st over.

Andrew Rae and Harley Peachey were Hill Top’s best bowlers with three wickets apiece, while Jimmy Debs picked up two.

Hill Top’s chase started poorly. Captain Simon reid was their only top-six batsman to make double figures, before he was spectacularly caught by Shepherd.

“Simon started batting really well, him and Harry Reicher were getting Hill Top back in with a chance,” Wright said.

“He [Reid] got a full toss on leg stump and smacked it away through square leg.

“I thought ‘there goes another four’, but before I knew it Scott Shepherd was horizontal to the ground taking a speccy.”

Hill Top never recovered, despite some lusty lower order hitting by Matt Conquest (44).

The Kookaburras were all out for 131 in the 26th over.