Steve Skinner decimated the Hornets with a monumental five-wicket haul, claiming the crucial scalps of Corey McDean (10), Matt Finlay (8), Adam Wells (10), J Kuntze (0) and Rajat Rai (16).

That went a long way to the Tigers knocking Souths over for just 115, while Patterson (3/19) and Lee Price (2/29) claimed some wickets of their own.

Then their batsmen went to work.

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There were worrying signs as opener Dan Holland fell early (7), and Wayne Dunlop (21) also went after a short partnership with Charlie Kempston.

But once Patterson (54) came out he had no plans of leaving, drawing suggestions he was hogging the crease.

“The batsmen didn’t get much opportunity,” Skinner laughed.

“Patto hit them pretty well.”

Patterson hit them so well that he racked up 54 runs, from 29 balls, in 28 minutes, including nine boundaries (seven fours, two sixes). Newtown caught Souths’ total inside 10 overs, and with eight wickets in hand.

“He’s a good cricketer obviously so he’ll play a big role for us this year,” Skinner added.

“He’s good around the young blokes as well, which is exciting for us.”

Skinner spent the winter playing indoor cricket, crediting that for his strong performance on Saturday. But he also felt lucky.

“We’ve been training pretty hard so the ball hasn’t been coming out too badly, but you never know,” he said.

“Some days you bowl really well and nothing comes of it, and others you can be going pretty badly and get wickets.”

He said former St George District Cricket second-grade player Trent Smith – who had figures of 0/20 and one maiden from five overs – was unlucky not to take a wicket.

In a historic day, Dunlop also racked up his 5000^th run for the Newtown club.

“Obviously Dunners being around for another year for us is huge,” Skinner said. “He has actually sold his house and moving back to the coast, but with his job at the moment, he’s enjoying it so he’s going to stick around until April.”