The under-12 and under-14 sides, boasting players from Muswellbrook, Denman, Scone and Aberdeen, ventured to Cook Park with victory on their minds after a disrupted first round.

And, they achieved their objective in convincing fashion.

In the under-12 fixture, Singleton sent Upper Hunter in to bat first.

Although the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals, their number three batsman Tommy Dixon stuck in there and went on to make 68 with a beautiful display of batting.

He was the only player to reach double figures in Upper Hunter’s total of 122.

Singleton’s Alex Stafa (4-28 off eight overs), Dorian Thornberry (3-21 off five) and Ethan van Zyl (2-29 off eight) all bowled well.

Having been set a target of 123, the hosts got off to a slow start.

The Upper Hunter strike bowlers, Jed Collins, Andrew Cooper and Cooper Gageler, took three wickets before Singleton began to dig in.

Van Zyl top scored with 17 before being caught out, Abbott Stacey and Druery also contributed with the bat.

Singleton was eventually dismissed for 65.

Collins finished with 3-1, and was backed up by Cooper (1-11) and Gageler (1-17).

Daniel McCamley chipped in with 2-6.

In the under-14 encounter, Upper Hunter had no hesitation in sending the home team into bat on a damp wicket.

The hosts were unable to master the conditions and slumped to 3-11 after 12 overs.

Isaac Barry (13) and Tom Druery (4) both looked in good touch but the innings collapsed further as Singleton lost another four wickets with the score on 25.

Andrew Knox (13) and Kye Dann (12) then batted intelligently.

Singleton’s innings finished on 74 in the final over with Ebony Butler unbeaten on three.

Upper Hunter’s Jack Pennell snared 4-11 while Sam Heaton took 3-8 and Alex McNeill 2-8.

The home side had to be on top of its game in the field to win this fixture.

However, with the wicket drying out, the task would be a difficult one.

Beau Parnell and Jack Shade opened the bowling and both claimed wickets and, at 2-34, the match was still there to be won.

The Upper Hunter batsmen then knuckled down and batted beautifully as they punished any wayward bowling.

Bailey Miller remained unbeaten on 41 while McNeill was 21 not out.

In the end, it was the visitors who prevailed as they chased down the target in the 16th over without losing any more wickets.