BECTIVE-EAST profited from a steady start to plunder 309 runs on a Chaffey Park “road” while North Tamworth and Old Boys have recorded first innings wins already.

Reigning premiers Old Boys rolled West Tamworth for 158 at No. 1 Oval and then reached 3-183 at stumps.

Josh Smith was the destroyer for Old Boys claiming a career best 6-12 which also included a hat-trick.

It was his first-ever, and first six-wicket haul.

“It started out pretty rough, really rough,” he said.

“(But then) I just found a decent line, which was the problem.”

“I was bowling too much down the leg side.”

Toby Fox (33), Shaun Stevenson (41) and Tim Kensell (37) top scored for a West Tamworth side that was then massacred early on in Old Boys run chase. Openers Adam Lole and Simon Norvill blasted 46 in the first five overs before skipper Ben Middlebrook then fired up, belting 15 fours and three sixes in a 68-ball unbeaten century.

Middlebrook finished the day 101 not out and his side 3-183, a 25-run lead going into the second day.

At Dick Edwards Oval, North and South Tamworth scored just 216 between them for 19 wickets on a diabolical Dick Edwards Oval wicket on the first day of their two-day matches.

North Tamworth were rolled for just 111 by a South Tamworth attack led by Angus McNeill but were dismissed for just 105 late in the day to hand the Redbacks first innings points in a disappointing chase.

South only mustered 10 batsmen too when one of their players, Wayne Price, left the ground and refused to bat. Skipper James Psarakis said it was a disappointing and unusual occurrence but was more disappointed by the poor batting display from his side after former skipper and Country keeper Tom Groth (44) had almost earned first innings points for the side.

“We just didn’t bat well enough, Tom held us together,”  Psarakis said.

“He batted very well just didn’t have anyone stick around. Angus bowled well too.”

McNeill finished with 5-38.

North skipper Michael Rixon wasn’t anticipating a first innings lead after his side batted poorly on a “a bit of an indifferent wicket”

“It was pretty disappointing actually,” he said of the new square.

“Hopefully it will come good.”

Adam Greentree and Brad Mills then bowled tightly, Greentree grabbing 2-26 from his 12 and Mills claiming 2-30 with his left armers.

English teenager Jack Beaumont also nipped in with 3-16 from his left arm spin after also batting well to finish unbeaten on 20.

At Chaffey Park Bective posted 309 as eight of the top nine batsmen made 20 or more.

Openers Nick Pearson (54) and Jye Paterson (39) put on 80 in a steady opening stand before Mark Slack-smith (61) and Brad Jenkinson (31) clicked up a gear with an 82-run fifth wicket stand.

James Bellamy (40), James Haling (23) and Lachlan Davidson (22) then cashed in too.

“We batted well,” said skipper Matt Everett.

“Got through the first session none down and that set us up.”

He thought Mark Slack-smith’s 61 off 68 balls was a great return from the allrounder.

“It was a long day,” said City United stand in keeper and skipper Peter Mead.

“We dropped two catches early, both openers and that cost us,” Mead said.

“While they scored 300 I thought our bowlers did their jobs, we just let them down in the field. We dropped Nick and Jye early, getting them early would have made a big difference.”

His bowlers did put in though.

Jack McVey was outstanding, claiming 2-44 off 19 overs, including seven maidens.

Ben Semmler (2-85) also toiled hard in his 21 overs while Dan Lawrence (2-56) and Tait Jordan (4-43) also bowled well in 12 and 10 over stints.