City United all-rounder Todd Francis underlined his importance to the team with a stunning 7-48 against Raymond Terrace in his first game of the season.
But player of the round honours belonged to Norths skipper Jordan Callinan who steered his side to victory with an unbeaten 72 after claiming 7-52 on day one of his side's clash against Tenambit Morpeth.
In his return from injury, Francis swept through the final seven Terrace batters to secure a 76-run win for City at Robins Oval as Terrace were all out for 179 in the 72nd over.
Cameron Bates took 2-30 and Izaac Coyle 1-8.
A number of Terrace batters got starts but were unable to go on to a big score. Daniel Upward was out for 47 off 121 balls before being caught lbw by Francis.
Joseph Harden made 34 off 147 balls, Jaxon Brooks 21 and Steve Smith finishing on 30 not out.
In the other round five matches, Kurri Weston Mulbring, Western Suburbs and Northern Suburbs all ran out comfortable winners .
The round five results leave KWM on top of the table with 27 points, followed by Wests on 25, City on 23 and Thornton (fourth) and Tenambit Morpeth (fifth) tied on 17 points.
Northern Suburbs got themselves in finals contention and are just one-point outside the top five in sixth. Eastern Suburbs are seventh on 14 points and Terrace are still without a win on four points.
Norths looked to be in trouble at 6-57 until skipper Callinan and Matt Sugden combined in a match-turning partnership against Tenambit-Morpeth
Calling took the leading role with 72 off just 85 balls, while Sugden made a patient 29 off 124 balls. Sea Gibson with 10 was the only other Norths batter to reach double figures as they made 7/144 chasing Tenambit Morpeth's 142.
Lochie Heit took 4-54 and Cam Wynn 2-26 for the Bulls.
Kurri Weston Mulbring's attack stood up in the absence of leading all-rounders skipper Sam Dalabozek and Steve Abel to dismiss Easts for just 150 at King Edward Park on Saturday for a 103-run win.
Tom Callan 3-21, Jacob Simmons 2-31 and Nicholas Neild 2-23 in a even performance with the ball.
Several Easts players got starts, but didn't got on with their innings. Lachie Wishart top scored with 29, David Richards 28, Will Stoneman 19 and Tom Porter 16.
After a disappointing round four loss to Tenambit Morpeth, Western Suburbs had an emphatic five-wicket win against last year's grand finalist Thornton at A & D Lawrence Reserve.
After dismissing Thornton for 147 last week, the Plovers made 5/148 on day two reaching their target in the 47th over for an early knock off.
Andrew Trappel got Wests off to a flier making 51 off just 62 balls in an innings which included three fours and three sixes. Trappel dominated the opening partnership with Sam Collinson falling for two with the score on 49.
Trappel was out just eight runs later and with Wests at 2-57, Thornton had hopes of an upset win.
However, Jeewan De Silva hit a fine 30 to go with his five wickets in a man of the match performance and Tom Irwin made 36 to take the Plovers within the 14 runs of victory.
Skipper Mitchell Fisher (nine not out to go with his 5-33) and Justin Lantry (five not out) saw the Plovers home.
Elliott Thompson took 2-48 off 18 overs and Dylan Maxted 2-13 off 4.1 to be Thornton's best with the ball.
In other news
Michael Hartshorn
Since starting in 1985 at the then Melbourne Herald, journalism has taken me around Australia from Victoria, to the Northern Territory, Cairns in Queensland and now Port Stephens. After all those years there is still something special about informing and connecting with readers.
Since starting in 1985 at the then Melbourne Herald, journalism has taken me around Australia from Victoria, to the Northern Territory, Cairns in Queensland and now Port Stephens. After all those years there is still something special about informing and connecting with readers.
