Maitland had the hosts 9-126 after losing the toss at Chaffey Oval but centurion Michael Rixon (110 not out) and No.11 Tim O’Neill, on his senior representative debut, steered Tamworth to 9-198 from their 50 overs.

The visitors then fell 28 runs short in reply, finishing at 9-170 in losing the second round fixture of the annual statewide one-day knockout competition. 

“We played better cricket at times, but just couldn’t get the result,” Maitland representative skipper Aaron Mahony said.

“I can’t fault the effort and we did everything we could. And at 9-120 odd it was looking pretty good, but that last-wicket partnership really hurt us. In reply we never really got going enough with the bat, but then again we never should have been chasing that many.”

Mahony top scored for Maitland with 47 while Dan Willis and Luke Merchant also chipped in.

“I probably threw away making it closer,” Mahony said. “We were around 120, but I played a stupid shot. I was in a position to do more than I did, which was pretty annoying.”

Mahony, who has returned to Maitland junior club Western Suburbs the last two summers after a stint in Newcastle with University, praised the performance of left-arm opening bowler Chris Archer after taking 5-35 from 10 overs.

“He bowled unreal for us,” Mahony said.

Mahony also acknowledged the efforts of “impressive” opponent Rixon.

Elsewhere in the Country Cup and with Passmore Oval washed out Sunday progression to next month’s third round was granted to Waratah-Mayfield ahead of hosts Hamilton-Wickham based on competition rules favouring the away team. 

Bathurst, Keira and Wollongong have also advanced closer to the finals carnival in Grafton in December following victories on Sunday. 

Tweed and Albury Wodonga are already in round three.

This weekend Merewether and Newcastle City travel to the Central Coast and meet The Entrance and Terrigal respectively.

Meanwhile, all Newcastle District Cricket Association first grade fixtures were washed out Saturday with Belmont the only team to move up the competition ladder after securing first innings points against Cardiff-Boolaroo a week earlier in the two-day match. 

Belmont (14 points) jump to fourth spot, in between fifth-placed Wests (12) and both Waratah-Mayfield and University (16).

Hawmwicks (18) remain outright first after opening the season with back-to-back bonus-point victories.

Upcoming fourth round matches are two-dayers, starting on Saturday with semi-final replays featuring Merewether and University as well as Hamwicks and Toronto. 

Around the grounds and Wallsend host Belmont, Stockton-Raymond Terrace travel to Charlestown, Wests are at home to Waratah-Mayfield and Cardiff-Boolaroo challenge Newcastle City.

LADDER: Hamilton-Wickham 18, Waratah-Mayfield 16, University 16, Belmont 14, Wests 12, Newcastle City 11, Stockton-Raymond Terrace 10, Toronto 10, Merewether 8, Charlestown 4, Wallsend 1, Cardiff-Boolaroo 1.