A James Rushford century and David Mulherin's two wickets on debut have seen University record an eight-run victory to kick start the Newcastle District Cricket Association season after last weekend's opening round was completely washed out.
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Rushford, back playing full-time this summer, stood up to make 105 off 83 balls in a 40-over total of 9-211 before new signing Mulherin (2-23) struck late in quick succession to leave visiting Stockton and Northern Districts (203) just shy at University Oval on Saturday.
The Sea Dragons, missing regular first graders Matt Gawthrop and Luke Bird, were 5-43 before No.4 batsman Rushford combined with Joe Hart (65) for a 159-run partnership while Stockton had been 8-202 in reply prior to Mulherin's back-to-back scalps.
University's Andrew Harriott, standing in as captain for Gawthrop, was pleased to get home in a tight encounter and praised the performance of Rushford.
"It was a chanceless innings. Superb," Harriott said.
"And we obviously needed it to being 2-15 and 4-23.
"It didn't look like he was going that quick, but he was going at a run a ball most of the way. He caught up a bit at the end because he went 4-6-6 to bring up his hundred."
Harriott thought Stockton, propped by 89 to former NSW Country representative Jeff Goninan on return, were going to get the win before medium-pacer Mulherin made his first game one to remember.
"It looked like they were going to get it easy," he said.
"They needed about 24 off 24 with three or four wickets in hand. He [Mulherin] was on debut for us, came on and just bowled stump to stump."
Elsewhere in Saturday's second-round fixtures, also one-dayers, and Wallsend skipper Nathan Price was able to put last week's dissent drama behind him to help the Tigers defeat Wests by 44 runs.
Price, who will front a Country Cricket NSW hearing on Monday night but was free to play across the weekend despite being put on report in a T20 Regional Bash match from October 13, scored 43 at the top of the order as hosts Wallsend made 5-221.
Wests No.5 Josh Emerton managed 70 in reply but the Rosellas were restricted to 9-177. Tigers all-rounder Jake Montgomery took 3-28 to go with his 57.
Defending Tom Locker Cup champions Hamilton-Wickham (2-84) and Newcastle City (5-67) share first spot on the competition ladder having secured bonus points against Waratah-Mayfield (79) and Belmont (65) respectively.
Cardiff-Boolaroo (146) beat Charlestown (127) with Rahul Bakshi scoring 75 while Merewether (6-189), including Simon Moore's 84, chased Toronto (8-187) with 10 balls to spare.
LADDER: Hamwicks, City 9; Wallsend, Merewether, University, Cardiff 8; Charlestown, Stockton, Toronto, Wests 3; Belmont, Waratah 2.
