First is to score the single needed for first innings point and then to push for an outright victory against a team skipper Matt Gabriel rates as a real contender for a top four finish.

Thornton thought they had achieved their first priority with a four off the final ball of play last week, but a recheck of scores saw the two teams level on 125 runs with Thornton five wickets down after dismissing the Griffins earlier in the day.

Seventeen-year-old Nic Bourke was outstanding for the Thunder taking 4-26 off nine overs and he and his fellow bowlers will need to be at their best again if they are to secure maximum points on Saturday.

Gabriel said if play is possible they will be looking to bat for 10 to 20 overs and then send Easts in.

"I suppose the plan is to chase some runs with some big hitting and put some quick runs on the board.

"It gives our bowlers something to bowl to and hopefully we can knock Easts confidence around a bit before we send them back in.

"It can always backfire if we lose quick wickets and lift Easts hopes, but I'll back out batters."

Gabriel admits there will be a bit of a nervous wait to see if they can play with rain forecast again for the weekend.

Play was only possible at King Edward Park and Lorn Park last Saturday with Robins Oval and Coronation Oval both washed out after about 100mm of rain fell across Maitland during the week.

Norths hold the upper hand against Tenambit Morpeth Bulls after posting 7/267 from their 80 overs.

In difficult conditions the experienced duo of skipper Lincoln Mills with 81 and Mike Wilson 54 led the way with Sean Gibson finishing on 43 not out and Josh Callinan making 40.

The games between Western Suburbs and Raymond Terrace and City United and Kurri Weston will be played as limited over fixtures.

The Thunder made the best of atrocious condition for cricket sending Easts into bat and dismissing them for 125 in the 52^nd over and then followed up to be 5/126 after 28 overs.

Belying the conditions teenager Bourke was outstanding with 4-26 including three of the top five batters. Daniel Willis picked up 2-24.

Gabriel earmarked Bourke for an opening bowling spot with his brother Jono filling in for their father Pommy behind the wickets.

"I wanted to give him a crack at opening the bowling and he has bowled very well the first two games he has played," Matt said.

"He was bowling more into the breeze and he was doing a fair bit with the ball.

"It's just a shame that he is only 17 and can only bowl seven over spells.

"You've got him and Riley Petrie coming in and batting an No.4. Riley got a good 30 last week against City and got in the runs again this week and he is only 15.

"The young fellas are coming in a doing quite a good job for us."

Petrie top scored with 35 before being run out.

Jono Gabriel continued his fine form opening with a rapid fire 30 including five fours and six before he was bowled by Nick Rinkin.

"Jono is absolutely killing them. Whatever he wants to hit, he just hits it which is quite good to watch.

"Yesterday he got 30, but he got an absolute rock that just did him all ends up.

"He just come off and said I'm not going to get that nine times out of 10.

"As a batter you've just got to say fair enough I'll take that one."

Gabriel was delighted with his team's effort in miserable conditions.

"It was a miserable day with the wind, but obviously with the way the day ended up going it was well the effort to get out there," he said.

"It was hard for both batting and bowling.

"It was that windy it was hard for batters to stand there and not have your bat wobbling about in the wind.

"I won the toss and elected to field, more because I just didn't know how much moisture was under the wicket. Being a bit unsure I thought bowling first was the way to go.

"Saying that the wicket played pretty well, there wasn't too much wrong with it at all.

"We took all our chances which makes a big difference. We didn't really give them a chance, we had our foot on their throat and didn't really let them go.

"Given the forecast for more rain next week it was really important to get first innings points when we had the chance."

Trent Park made a defiant 50 off 127 balls and Lachlan Wishart chimed in with 36 off 31 to be the best with the bat for Easts.

Willis and Jake Reeves will resume on five and seven respectively for Thornton next Saturday.

Do you know you can subscribe to get full access to all Maitland Mercury stories? Subscribing supports us in our local news coverage. To subscribe, click here.