Armidale City UNE have shown they're the team to beat in the first grade cricket competition with a victory over Easts on Saturday.
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While the results read a 42-run triumph, it wasn't all smooth sailing with the bat.
Two standout efforts from a couple of newcomers this season in Anton Peenz and Andrew Kirk salvaged their innings.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, City's openers Ash Clee and Andrew Skinner recorded six runs each.
Peenz then entered the frame and stepped up as wickets fell all around him - the next four batsmen fell for a combined four runs - for City to be at 6-50.
Kirk then made his appearance and the young duo put on a partnership of 84 before Peenz' stand came to an end on 74 with seven fours on a slow Rologas outfield.
James Napper came in at nine to add 17 runs while skipper Karl Triebe made 11.
Kirk finished the 45 overs on 45 not out alongside Chris Wild on two not out.
It was Brandon Burey who did the most damage of the Easts' bowlers, finishing with 4-41 off nine overs while a returning Sam Uphill nabbed 2-25 off eight.
Ian Ranger, Clarrie Moran and Cody Graham claimed one wicket each.
In defending their total, it was the skipper in Triebe who was at his firing best and claimed the first wicket of Will Green for a duck.
Easts managed to reach 40 runs before Cody Graham was caught off Riley Bomford's bowling for 22.
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Number four Ian Ranger set about landing the required runs but it wasn't long before Kirk added his name to the wicket-takers list when he bowled opener Dean Waters.
Then Triebe chimed in for his second, dismissing dangerman Clarrie Moran for a duck.
Triebe added a third scalp shortly after with Uphill trapped leg-before-wicket on two and it didn't end there.
He was on a hat-trick when he bowled Rob Kelly for a duck but didn't land another blow.
James Napper followed his skipper's lead in taking consecutive wickets, first with Justin Hickey for six and then Callan Green for a duck.
Aaron Whackett added eight for Easts before Peenz bowled him and then Ranger was the final wicket to fall with Arran Kenna dismissing him for a standout 45.
Burey finished on eight not out.