Servies dismissed Easts for 120 and then chased down the low total despite a few early hiccups with a flurry of strokes.

Cody Graham (24), Josh Martin (20) and Nick Levy (33) punished the Easts attack.

“They swung the willow hard,” Easts skipper Sam Uphill said.

“They hit boundaries and got them six or seven down.”

The win revitalised Servies, who still sit at the bottom of the table but with the promise of more successful days in January when the competition re-starts.

In contrast, it was a savage reminder to Easts of the volatility of the competition.

That was also evident at Lambert Park where Armidale City had the chance to go two games clear of arch rivals Hillgrove with a win.

However, Hillgrove’s top order bats, Matt Schaefer and Michael Dawson, compiled a 96-run opening stand and the premiers never looked back, with Bentley Cropper (54), Josh Croft (21) and Tom Armitage (25no) also joining the run spree against a fumbling City.

City skipper Steve Butler admitted his side was woeful in the field, with Angus Reckord (3-40) the best of the bowlers.

“That puts us back in equal second with Hillgrove but they have a better run rate than us,” Butler said.

“We could have gone to Christmas two wins clear. It was a bit of a reality check for us.”

Hillgrove skipper Brad King was delighted.

“We scored a few runs for a change,” he said. “Then bowled and fielded well – took a few good catches too.”

King was delighted with the way young seamer Lochlan Elks has returned to form in recent weeks, claiming 2-28 from his two-spell 11 overs on Saturday.

“It’s great to see him get his rhythm back,” he said.