Chasing Newcastle’s all-out total of 94, Orange’s Blake Weymouth top scored with 28 as Western passed its opposite’s total in the 39^th over.

Weymouth combined brilliantly with Dubbo’s Tom Coady (23) at the top of the order, the pair producing an opening stand of 49 before Orange’s Phoebe Litchfield steered the side home with 21 at the death, Western making it to 4-95 and a confidence boosting round one victory.

Earlier, Forbes’ Darcy Leadbitter and Lithgow quick Will Hutchinson proved the best of the Western bowlers, taking 3-10 and 3-19 respectively to launch the Zone’s under 14s NSW Country Cricket campaign, one highlighted by a tremendous fielding display.

The Western young-guns produced three run outs, Litchfield’s effort to remove Newcastle’s Cooper Southam with a direct hit particularly impressive.

With the ball, Cavaliers and Orange tweaker Hugh Middleton was the only other wicket-taker, snaring 1-8 off his eight overs – including three maidens – to help Western dismiss Newcastle for 94.

In other round one clashes, Central Northern and the Southern/ACT outfit battled out an entertaining tie, Central Coast lost to North Coastal and Country Cricket giants Illawarra defeated Riverina by seven wickets.

Western took on Southern/ACT on Tuesday, before going head-to-head against North Coastal and Illawarra on Wednesday and, finally, Central Northern on Thursday.