COVID has struck Maitland cricket with two games cancelled because of players impacted by the Omicron outbreak.
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Tenambit Morpeth and Kurri Weston were both granted COVID draws with four or more of their players unavailable for their games against Northern Suburbs and City United respectively.
Five players from both the Bulls and Warriors had either tested positive or been listed as a close contact meaning the clubs could seek a COVID draw under new bylaws introduced by the Maitland and District Cricket Association.
Saturday's round six was one-day fixtures and Western Suburbs and Thornton both recorded what could prove vital wins in the context of what is likely to be an interrupted season.
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Wests had to fight back from being 6-50 against Raymond Terrace to chase down their target of 7/174.
Raymond Terrace's Joseph Collins took 5-26 to cause all sorts of troubles for the Plovers, until Mitchell Fisher and Andrew Trappel steadied the ship and combined in a 90-run partnership to get Wests to within 30 runs of victory.
Trappel was out for 41 with the score on 7-144, but Fisher 58 not out and 17-year-old Izach Dennis 16 not saw the Plovers home.
"It was the first time for a long time that either Andrew or myself had been in a position to bat for an extended period and build an innings," Fisher said.
"We've been batting later in the order and have been in the roles where we have been looking for quick runs, so to be able to build a partnership like that was great.
"It was a nice reminder of how good a batter Andrew is when given the opportunity to build an innings.
"For young Izach to then come in a bat so calmly and help see us home was excellent. It was a great knock in the circumstances by a 17-year-old."
Steve Smith and Luke Thomas both scored 36 for Raymond Terrace as they made 7/174. Harry King with 4-18 from 10 overs and Shaun Hill 3-37 from 8.1 shared the wickets for Wests.
Wests were missing one player through COVID and Fisher said the victory gave his side a valuable break on the table given the uncertainty surrounding COVID and the unavailability of players.
"We were missing one player and myself and another player had returned after being in isolation over Christmas. Losing players to COVID and having games cancelled is going to be an ongoing issue for all teams this season," Fisher said.
"Depth is going to be very important for teams and we've got that this year with first and second grade topping the tables at the break."
An outstanding 75 by Easts skipper Jack Bennett was not enough to halt Thornton's winning run with the Thunder recording a five-wicket win with three overs to spare.
Bennett's only support came from Trent Park 19, Joe Hancock 16 and Lachie Wishart 11 as Easts were restricted to 9/160.
In an even bowling performance, Elliott Thompson (2-18 off six), Brent Dawes (2-39 off 10) and Dylan Maxted (2-27 off six) picked up two wickets each.
Thornton skipper Matt Gabriel finished on 51 not out to lead a solid Thunder reply of 5/161 with plenty of contributors including Jake Moore with 28, Jono Gabriel 26 and Jamie Krake 22.
Western Suburbs are unbeaten after six rounds and sit on 32 points from five wins and a washed out draw. Thornton are second on 27 with a first round loss to City, four wins and a washed out draw. City dropped back to third on 23 points, with three wins, a round four loss to Wests and two draws (washout out and COVID).
Kurri Weston rounds out the top four with 18 points followed by Norths and Tenambit Morpeth on 13 points, Raymond Terrace is seventh on 12 point and Easts are bottom on 10.
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