After winning the toss against North Coast and electing to bat, things weren’t looking good for them at 3-8 after eight.

“We were in a little bit of trouble,” manager Peter Mead said.

Enter skipper Johnson (Armidale City) and Zack Doring from Wee Waa. They put on 66 in a game changing partnership.

“That turned the game immensely,” Mead said.

The partnership, and the speed at which they scored, with Doring smacking seven boundaries in a quick-fire 45.

Johnson batted through to finish with 50 as North West made 159, which was Mead said, a great score on that ground.

He couldn’t speak highly enough of Johnson’s innings.

“It was a very mature captain’s knock. He was patient early and gave Zack the strike,” he said. “When Zack got out he took the reins.”

George Powell (Burren Junction) also chipped in with “a good 17”.

“All our bowlers then really worked hard as a unit,” Mead said.

“There were some outstanding figures.”

None more so than Billy Youman, who didn’t concede a run off his 4.1 overs to finish with 1-0.

Williams topped the wickets with 3-9 off four and was well supported by Navida Geeganage (Tamworth Public) with 2-16, Johnson (1-5), Nick Mead (Tamworth South) with 1-25 and Dylan Gardner (Inverell Public) with 1-9 as they bowled North Coast out for 99.

The secondary water polo boys didn’t fare as well at their carnival at Picton, and will now likely have to rely on for and against to squeeze into the semi-finals after suffering a draw and a loss.

It was a frustrating day for manager Sharon Grellman watching them draw 7-all against Riverina and then put it to a Sydney East side that is shaping up as the team to beat. They went down only 10-8 and showed what they are capable of.

“They weren’t fazed by how strong the other team were and didn’t let themselves get intimidated,” she said.