After an underwhelming season in 2013-14, Easts singed a number of new recruits over the off-season in an effort to beef up their chances of a premiership this time around.

Saturday’s 118-run win over Ex-Services was the perfect start for Easts.

“It was much better than chasing leather around like we did most of last year,” Easts skipper Sam Uphill said.

Servies’ skipper Brad Widders won the toss and sent Easts into bat at the Armidale Sportsground.

“I would have batted anyway,” Uphill said.

Nathan Porter (23) and Dean Moore (20) put on 46 for the opening wicket before Braden Graham (3-49) had Moree caught by his brother Cody Graham.

“Those guys got us off to a good start,” Uphill said.

“The middle order went on with the job from there.”

New signing Todd Francis (39) top scored for Easts from number five in an innings that included six boundaries.

Shane Collins (33) and Tom Toshack (31) also chipped in in the middle order to take the score to 7-196 after their allotted overs.

John Elliott (3-54) also bowled well for Servies.

Servies’ run chase started in disaster with opener Justin Green dismissed for a duck by Sam Constance (2-14) with score on just one.

Number three Nick Levy (4) fell not long after and Servies were reeling at 2-9.

Cody Graham (26) and Will Green (14) steadied the ship somewhat with a 44-run third wicket partnership, but then Uphill decided he had seen enough.

The Easts skipper injected himself into the attack and delivered a devastating spell to finish with figures of 5-30 and bundle Servies out for just 78.

“I got a bit lucky, I didn’t bowl that well,” a humble Uphill said.

He saved most of his praise for Francis.

“He’s going to be a good pickup,” Uphill said.

“He batted very well and bowled well too.”

Uphill was amazed at how far Francis (2-5) was able to turn his left arm orthodox spinners.

While there were many positives to bring away from the match for Easts, Uphill insists his side had a lot of hard work ahead of them.

“We were pretty rusty first up,” he said.

“We bowled too many wides as well.” 

and we need to work on that.

“That good thing was when we bowled a good ball, it was a very good one.”