A new-look Maitland team has made a winning start to the John Bull Shield beating Cessnock by 68-runs at East End Oval on Sunday.
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Skippered by Ricky Dent, the team has plenty of new faces in a mix of experience and youth which came together to post 239 all out in the 50th over.
Dent, playing at No.4, led from the front with 55 after Dan Collinson with 60 and Western Suburbs opener Shannon Threlfo 32 gave Maitland a strong start.
Originally from Tamworth, Collinson reinforced how important he will be for Tenambit Morpeth this season also picking up 1-11 off four overs with the ball.
Threlfo's innings was entirely made up of fours.
Maitland kept the innings ticking over with valuable contributions along the batting order.
Kurri Weston all-rounder Liam Neild made 21, keeper Grant Garland chipped in 15, young City United paceman Cameron Wynn made 28 and Port Stephens teenager Alex Lidbury added 13 batting at No.9.
Martin Shearer was Cessnock's best with 3-52 off 10, with Zach Sneesby (2-21 off 5), Connor Thomson (2-64 off 10) and Cameron Ross (2-36 off 10) all taking a brace of wickets each for the home side.
At the halfway mark in reply, the game looked fairly evenly poised with Cessnock at 2-116, but four quick wickets for the next 35 runs proved costly for the home side, and they were eventually all out in the 41st over for 171.
Daniel Russell made a well-timed 73, skipper Joey Butler made 29, with all-rounders Sneesby (14) and Ross (12) providing some resistance.
Northern Suburbs all-rounder Callum Gabriel finished with the best figures of 3-26, including two wickets during Cessnock's mid-order collapse.
Neild created the vital breakthrough dismissing Russell and then followed up with the key wicket of Mulbring skipper Cameron Ross for 12 to finish with figures of 2-37.
Alex Seamer relished his role as the leader of the attack picking up 2-26. Brent Dawes, Lidbury and Wynn picked up a wicket each.
In the other first round game, Newcastle C&S had a convincing seven-wicket win against Singleton.
Singleton were dismissed for 148 in the 33rd over and Newcastle C&S cruised to 3/149 off 28.1 overs in reply.
Upper Hunter had the bye this round.
Round two is scheduled for Sunday, November 10, with Maitland hosting Singleton at Robins Oval from 10.30am.
In the other game, Newcastle C&S host Upper Hunter at Feighan Oval.
Cessnock have the bye.
