The Macleay Valley Cricket Association's first grade competition made its return from a three week break over the Christmas and New Year period last Saturday.
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The four top grade sides competed in two Twenty20 contests and it was the Nulla side who took out the bragging rights on the day as the only team to win both matches.
The victories against Stuarts Point/Eungai and Rovers lifted the Nulla outfit, who are the defending champions, back into first position after they had dropped to second with a loss against South West Rocks to end 2019.
Nulla took to the field against Stuarts Point/Eungai in their first clash and completed a successful run chase in the 16th over.
However, faced with a total of 120, Nulla had a poor start as openers Lloyd Black and Flynn O'Loughlin being dismissed for a duck while first drop Bryce Widdison recorded six runs.
Nulla's Corey Crotty was able to right the ship as he went on to score 54 runs and finished the innings not out.
Shane Crouch (27) and Adam Stutz (13) provided important cameos as Nulla finished 5/123.
For Stuarts Point/Eungai, Barry Welch (40), George Botfield (24) and Trent Lynch (19) combined to post a respectable total while Nulla bowler Lachlan Ayres picked up four wickets to help dismiss Stuarts Point/Eungai in the 17th over.
Connor Gainge grabbed three wickets for Stuarts Point/Eungai.
Nulla completed another successful run chase in their second contest as they eclipsed Rovers' 111 in the 18th over.
Almost half of Rovers' total was scored by Matt Scott (53) while Patrick Brennan (23) was the only other batsman to record a double figure score.
Mark Smee and Flynn O'Loughlin did the majority of the damage with the ball in hand for Nulla as they earned three wickets each.
Smee backed up his efforts with the ball to score 22 runs as an opener while Corey Crotty (32), Adam Stutz (28) and Bryce Widdison (17) contributed to Nulla reaching 3/114.
Rovers had success in their contest earlier in the day, as they came out on top against South West Rocks as they ran down the set total of 123.
South West Rocks batsmen Hayden Williams (33), Cyril Davis (16), Lyle Holmes (13) and Stephen Moorecroft (13) contributed to the total while Rovers' Caleb Foran was the only bowler to pick up two or more wickets.
In response, Rovers opener Brett Williams set the pace as he recorded 39 runs and batted out the innings while Patrick Brennan (35) and Ethan Dowling (24) helped steer the side to victory.
Sam Stanfield picked up two wickets with the ball in hand for South West Rocks.
In the final game played last Saturday, South West Rocks smashed their way to a 5/247 and Stuarts Point/Eungai managed 7/156 in response.
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