NEWTOWN opening bowler Heath Blackett was in fine form on Saturday and was responsible for one of the more incredible starts to a Pinnington Cup match in recent times.
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Blackett's early carnage reduced competition leaders Macquarie to the almost unbelievable score of 3-0 after five overs.
Experienced trio Joe Haylock, Ian Marchant and Brant Mann all came and went without scoring as Blackett, who finished the day with four wickets, got his side off to the perfect start.
The Blues showed why sit on top of the ladder as they battled through and made it to 170, with Justin Gavin (42) leading the fightback.
He, Vinay Kapila (29) and tailenders Waseem Khan (27) and Shane Dupille (20) added some respectability to the score.
Blackett was the pick of the bowlers with 4-36 from 11 overs while his father Kel (2-15) and Darren Davis (2-26) were the other multiple wicket-takers.
Newtown then had to survive the final four overs of the day and they did without loss.
Craig Pettit (9 not out) and Chris Beatty (5 not out) got the side to 0-18 and will resume the run chase next week, with the Tigers requiring another 153 runs for victory.
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RSL-Colts will be aiming for an outright win next week after wrapping up first innings points on day one of their clash with Rugby.
The defending premiers won the toss and bowled and made the most of the conditions to dismiss Rugby for 124 and then went on to finish the day at 4-141.
Colts' decision to bowl paid off almost immediately when Lachlan Harper (0) fell with the score on one.
A top order collapse of 4-11 reduced Rugby to 5-52 shortly after and they never really recovered despite four of their bottom six reaching double figures.
Spinner Jakke Gardiner was again among the wickets for Colts, finishing with 3-25 while Nathan Finlay (2-10) and Ryan Davies (2-22) also got in on the act.
The men in red lost Graeme Morton (10) and Josh Smith (17) inside the first 10 overs in reply but Michael Ying Sing combined with Sean Mason set about building a partnership.
Mason fell for 41 while Ying Sing remained unbeaten on 43 as he and Shane Groen (29 not out) passed Rugby's total and finished the day at 4-141.
Zac Murphy (1-33 from 11) bowled well for Rugby and will need to do so again next week as his side aim to restrict Colts' lead.
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South Dubbo took the honours on day one of their clash with CYMS, batting the day and setting an imposing total.
An 85 run stand between Jeff Shanks (78) and Josh Williams (50) was the highlight as the Hornets finished the day at 9-241.
Darren Kranias was a standout for CYMS and worked for his side all day, finishing with 4-57 from 20 overs. The total was set up early on after Souths lost Brian McKinnon (1) early.
Williams and Shanks took the score to 93 before Shanks and Toby Morgan (30) added another 50 for the third wicket.
Pat Brandon and Matt Trumper also chipped in with 23 each late on as Souths continued their hunt for a top three spot.
