Tamworth first-grade cricket: Bective beat Norths at Riverside 2 | PHOTOS

The season - halted first by COVID and then by wet weather - finally got under way in round three, with an early upset the highlight of the three matches.

After winning only one game last season, a Bective East side inspired by their young skipper, Jye Paterson, rolled North Tamworth by six wickets at Riverside 2.

Off-spinning allrounder Paterson, 22, now in his fourth season as Bulls skipper, snared 3-32 off eight overs and then made 77 not out batting at No 3 as the Bulls finished on 4-160 in the 37th over.

North Tamworth, last season's grand finallist, finished on 8-156 in 40 overs.

It was the first time since 2016-17 that Bective East started the season with a win.

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"We bowled really well, fielded really well," Paterson said of Saturday's win.

He added: "It was really good to see that we pretty much put a full game together."

Paterson said it was the best he had felt in a match since returning to Tamworth to lead the side in 2018-19.

He attributed his performance to understanding his game better due to getting older.

He also said that "everyone was just keen to get out there" after the delayed start of the season.

But he added: "It's just gonna be a wet summer."

At No 1 Oval, Old Boys began their premiership defence in style with a 43-run defeat of South Tamworth.

Four Old Boys batsmen posted scores in the 30s - Mitchell Swain (36), Daniel Bryant (35), Hayden Baker (33) and Corey Sommers (32) - as the side finished on 9-209.

Souths' veteran No 3 Chris Skilton struck a 49-ball 83 that included six sixes and six fours.

Off-spinner Baker then claimed 5-67 off eight overs as Souths were dismissed for 166 in the 28th over.

At Riverside 1, City United beat West Tamworth by six wickets after speedster Tait Jordan picked up three wickets and then Richard O'Halloran and Callum Henry both scored 41 as City made 4-128 in the 31st over.

Wests were removed for 127 in the 31st over.

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