The third game on a four-match card at Portland's Kremer Park to kick-off the new Mid West season, Grant Cock bagged a hat-trick to help lift the Barbars to a five-tries-to-three victory over last year's runners-up.

Portland looms as the Barbarians' biggest challenge to a maiden premiership in 2019, the Dallas Booth-led Colts storming to a 50-10 victory over Lithgow Bears.

Portland held a 26-0 lead at half-time after scoring six tries in the first 35 minutes, the first to Shannon Rhodes, before Kyle Witherspoon, Evan Carter, Ian Dray and two to Booth announced the new-look Colts as a genuine title contender.

A large crowd saw two women's league tag games kick-off the day, with CSU defeating Orange Barbies 12-8, then Portland Fillies won their contest 16-6 against Lithgow Bears.