The powerful City right-hander tore Tenambit Morpeth apart, scoring an unbeaten 158 which included nine sixes and 13 fours - that's 102 runs in boundaries - in his team's total of 4-316 from their 50 overs.

All rounder Todd Francis deserves special mention here too. He slammed seven sixes in his whirlwind innings of 57, which included five in one over.

If anyone wants to win this comp, they're going to have to find a way past City.

For Trappel, it was his third century of the season and very nearly his fourth - he was dismissed in the 90s against Norths in the previous match.

"I had a talk to my brother Matt and I'm trying to be more patient early on in my innings," he said of his hot form. "I'm being more selective with the shots I play. I'm finding if I do that I can reap the benefits later.

"Right now it's working well because I feel I'm hitting the ball as well as I have in a long while. I thought I was a bit down last season but going into the semi finals I'm really happy with how I'm hitting them."

So he should. His record this season reads 544 runs at an average of 77.7.

The irony of Saturday's effort is that the wicket was nipping around a bit early and took a while to settle. When it did settle it played beautifully and didn't Trappel cash in.

At 33, and with 10 successful years with Hamilton Wickham in the Newcastle competition, how much longer does he plan on going on?

"Oh, it'll be a while yet," he said.

"City's like Hamwicks, a real family club, and I love it here. I'd like to hang around and work with the younger players and the juniors, give something back to the club."

That's good news for the club but opposition bowling attacks will be shaking their heads in dismay.

Next Saturday and Sunday, red hot favourites City will take on Western Suburbs at Lorn Park in one semi final, with Thornton and Norths meeting in other other semi at Thornton.

For Wests, getting Trappel early will be top of their agenda.

In the other matches on the weekend, Wests were too good for Kurri whose batting was again fragile.

Despite a strong innings of 86 from skipper Steve Abel, Kurri's 176 was not enough with Wests winning comfortably with five wickets down.

Easts, the other team in semi final contention, were downedby Norths in a tough game at East Maitland Park with Cal Gabriel steering Norths home with the bat with 76.

And Raymond Terrace's 138 was never enough against Thornton who wrapped up second spot with more than 13 overs to spare.