An influx of quality recruits showed they are set to make a big impact on Maitland cricket this season making impressive starts with their new clubs on Saturday.
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Eastern Suburb's English recruit Toby Godfray led the way with 85 as Easts made 6/277 to account for a game Tenambit Morpepth who were all out for 162.
Western Suburbs were well served by Central Coast recruit Shaun Hill who picked up three wickets and made a powerful 62 in his side's seven wicket win against Kurri Weston.
Returning star Aaron Mahony was unbeaten on 62 and English recruit Elliott Lewis showed plenty in a cameo innings at the end finishing on 14 not out as the Plovers reeled in Kurri Weston's total with almost 30 overs to spare.
For the Warriors Dylan Rumble made 30 and picked up Hill's wicket, while Ben Herring will be better for the run after a duck and no wickets in his return from the Newcastle comp.
City United were delighted with the form of their recruits with Dubbo's Wayne Dunlop making 51 on debut and Todd Francis, who moved to the club from Armidale, making 48 not out as City reeled in Northern Suburbs 211 for a five-wicket win.
Francis and keeper Matt Latham (32 not out) combined for 65 to guide City to 5/212 and a five-wicket win with more than five overs to spare.
Francis also picked up 2-47 off 17 overs to share the bowling honours with Nick Bower (2-52).
City's other key recruit former Easts skipper Andrew Vickery made 28 in an opening stand of 48 with Dunlop and Josh Trappel made a quick-fire 31. City went from 1-103 off 20 overs to 5-147, but Francis and Latham steadied the innings and then picked up the run-rate to coast home.
City skipper Matt Trappel said he was delighted with all three recruits starts and their inclusion had bolstered the side's batting depth.
At King Park 1, Jaymes Thomas made 94 off just 74 balls to set up Raymond Terrace's winning total of 9/217. Skipper Steve Smith made 37 and another new player to the competition John Warrington, who joined the Lions from Orange, made 24.
At 2/137 Thornton appeared to be cruising to Victory, but Cameron Bates with 5-46 and Thomas with 3-21 combined to put the clamps on dismiss them for 202 with five balls to spare.
Jono Gabriel made 20 and Jamie Krake 52 at the top of the innings and Matthew Gabriel made 34 and Dan Willis 46 before Thornton's innings crumbled.
At Morpeth Oval, Easts picked up their form at the end of last season with an impressive 115 run win against Tenambit Morpeth in the Bulls return to first grade.
Griffins skipper Jack Bennett said after not winning a game before Christmas last season it was a tremendous relief to start win a win and play so well.
Will Stoneman gave the Griffins a good start making 44 and Lewis with a fine 85 showed he will fill the void left by last year's leading run-scorer Brendan Allen. Bennett chimed in with 40 and Michael Gavan piled a quick-fire 52 at the end to set up East's big score.
The Bulls started in electrifying fashion posting almost seven runs an over early. Tamworth opener Daniel Collinson made a classy 27 and 15-year-old Baylee Borrow made 12 opening.
Adam Sidoti tried to hold the innings together with 38 and Andrew Bashford made 28 at the end to go with two wickets.
Josh Hicks was the best in an impressive bowling effort taking 4-39.
At Coronation Oval tail-end resistance by Jack Sylvester 24, Daniel Rumble 30 and Sam Bennett 33 on debut enabled Kurri Weston to post 170.
After Riley Harrison took three wickets on day one, Matt Shone (3-26) and Shaun Hill (3-47) both had three-wicket hauls as well. Hill and Mahony steered the Plovers to victory with the bat.