Charlestown and Wests have put themselves in strong positions midway through round six having already collected first-innings points on day one of their respective two-day encounters.
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The Magpies hold a 91-run lead and have opponents Belmont 2-26 in their second innings at Cahill Oval while the Rosellas are 3-127 after dismissing visitors Toronto for 99 at Harker Oval.
Saturday marked the opening 90-over fixtures for the Newcastle District Cricket Association first grade competition this season following five weeks of one-dayers.
Isaac Wallace was the stand out for Charlestown, who had hosts Belmont all out for 61 and made 178 in reply, with the off-spinner taking 4-6 from seven overs and scoring 59 batting at No.10.
Wallace claimed the scalp of Belmont captain Marcus Hainsworth (13) at 5-45 before picking up the last three wickets in a collapse of 3-8.
Charlestown reached the target one down but Wallace came to the crease at 8-111 before spearheading a last-wicket stand of 64 with Rory Maddison (four not out). His maiden half-century in the top XI came off 51 deliveries, including seven fours and two sixes.
Opener Luke Hitchcock (55) also made fifty for the Magpies.
Wests seamer Brad Aldous (4-38) was the chief destroyer across at New Lambton, clinching four of Toronto's first five wickets.
Puru Gaur (35 not out) and Edan Brichta (41 not out) are the unbeaten batsmen for the Rosellas, who have seven wickets in hand and a 28-run advantage ahead of day two this weekend.
Before the start of play Wests were second on the ladder with 22 points, five behind frontrunners Hamilton-Wickham (27) and one ahead of nearest rivals Merewether (21), while Charlestown (16) was in a four-way share of fourth spot.
Hamwicks and Merewether had contrasting fortunes on Saturday, with the Pumas 2-53 chasing the 199 of Wallsend (16) at Passmore Oval while the Lions were bundled out for 152 and hosts University (16) reached 1-97 in reply.
Kain Anderson (4-58) and Mitch Casey (3-22) combined for seven wickets for Hamwicks. Wallsend captain Nathan Price was left stranded at 87 not out.
Uni's Mitch Lole took 4-42 and Joseph Hart is 44 not out.
Cardiff-Boolaroo (16), the other side in that mid-table logjam, posted 285 against Waratah-Mayfield (0-2) at Waratah Oval.
CBs pair Adam Winchester (78) and Sudhanshu Gundeti (56) piled on 115 runs for the third wicket. Waratah skipper Nathan Hudson ended up with 4-40.
And at Learmonth Park, hosts City are in early trouble at 2-14 chasing Stockton and Northern District's 220.
Visiting captain Nick Foster (2-4) struck twice in the same over late in the piece after top scoring with 82. City's Angus McTaggart (5-41) clinched his maiden five-wicket haul in firsts.
