Northern Suburbs started their title defence with an outright victory while Kurri Weston and City United both secured first innings points in the 2014-2015 season opener.
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Mercury sports reporter Josh Callinan takes a closer look around the grounds from round one of the Maitland and District Cricket Association first grade competition.
RAYMOND TERRACE v NORTHERN SUBURBS
An impressive first-up display from Northern Suburbs all-rounder Lincoln Mills helped the defending champions to maximum points from their season opener against Raymond Terrace.
Mills scored an unbeaten 66 and finished with match figures of 8-59 at Jack Collins Oval as Norths recorded an eight-wicket outright victory over the Lions.
Resuming at 5-132 on Saturday the visitors piled on 76 runs in eight overs before declaring their first innings closed with a lead of 119.
Mills was one run shy of scoring a half-century in that session and then did some damage with the ball taking 5-45 in the second innings to sit alongside his 3-14 in the first.
Raymond Terrace slumped to be 5-30 in their second dig before Bryce Smith (33) and Will Maher (35) offered some lower order resistance and forced Norths to bat again.
The hosts were dismissed for 134 with Norths reaching the 16 required two wickets down.
CITY UNITED v EASTERN SUBURBS
City United skipper Matthew Trappel said his team still has room for improvement despite recording a convincing 132-run victory against Eastern Suburbs at Robins Oval.
City comfortably defended their 275 by dismissing the Griffins for 143 on day two of the first round encounter but Trappel said his side could have been better.
“It was a good, strong start to the season,” Trappel said.
“We did well but the best thing was there was still plenty of room for improvement.”
City dropped three catches and missed a couple of run out chances but had plenty of room to spare, thanks largely to a record last-wicket stand of 113 between Michael Jordan (84 not out) and No.11 Paul Brownlee (52) on day one.
Left-arm orthodox spinner Nick Bower was the pick of the bowlers for City taking 3-37, while opener Ben Davies (2-24) and Trappel (2-17) were also in the mix while Pat Magann top scored with 49.
WESTERN SUBURBS v KURRI WESTON
Western Suburbs captain Tom Irwin knows his side must play much better cricket to be in premiership contention this season.
The Plovers were easily beaten by Kurri Weston on Saturday with the visitors passing the hosts’ 157 six wickets down in the opening session of day two.
“We didn’t play very good cricket,” Irwin said.
“Credit to them, they’re not a bad side and they took it away from us, but we need to be much better.”
Kurri Weston resumed on 2-92 and lost only four wickets, two each to Mitch Fisher (2-25) and Luke Merchant (2-38), in chasing down the 66 runs required.
“It was fairly comfortable,” Kurri Weston skipper Tyler Power said.
“A couple of little partnerships got us home in the end.”
New recruit Michael Heinrich was the mainstay for Kurri Weston finishing unbeaten on 84 with Power (21), Josh Tuckwell (17) and Steve Abel (17) all chipping in.
Kurri Weston was 8-222 when the match was called.
First Grade – First Round
Michael Heinrich (Kurri Weston)
Michael Jordan (City United)
Lincoln Mills (Northern Suburbs)
Mitchell Saxby (Northern Suburbs)
Paul Brownlee (City United)
Patrick Magann (Eastern Suburbs)
Matthew Trappel (City United)
Will Maher (Raymond Terrace)
Matthew Sugden (Northern Suburbs)
Dallas Crane (Eastern Suburbs)
Callen Sargent (Eastern Suburbs)
