Batting first on a drought-ravaged oval, which was fast and a bit haphazard in bounce for fielders, the visitors found the United side, full of experience and confidence after their good start to the season, a bit hard to handle.

Losing form batsman Joel Elliott (four) and opener Alexander Thomas (five) early, stalwarts Mick Adams and Al May mounted a slight recovery before skipper, Adams (24) was out at 3/52, which soon became 4/56 with the loss of the talented Landon Blissett (four).

Youngster, Will Elliott (22) tried to hang with May but when he went at 6/99, the Dolphins were in trouble.

May hung on to be eighth out for a fighting 37 before a late order swashbuckling effort by Tim Steinmetz (28 n/o) helped the side to 9/154.

The United bowlers had done the job with Ryan Griffin (2/21), Laurie Weekes (1/16) and Ian Cameron (1/30) all bowling tightly and accurately.

The best figures, however, went to Wade Harry with 5/26 off eight overs in a super spell of accuracy which saw one bowled and four LBW indicating his ''at the stumps'' stint.

While the Dolphins grabbed the early wicket of Weekes, the following batsmen all took a liking to most of the visitor's flingers and only Alan Thomas with 2/29 off eight was able to keep them in check.

Tony Mills (32), Bevan Coleman (44), Ken Middlebrook (29 n/o) and Dylan Wadwell (43 n/o) all found the boundary quite well and the United side had a comfortable chase to end at 4/157 in the 28th over.

With Wingham White just ahead of four teams on the same points, the comp will head into the break in an interesting state come last matches this weekend.

The Dolphins will be looking to cause another upset when they take on the leaders Wingham White and end the pre-Christmas session with a big scalp.

They will need a monumental effort but are capable of it.

The eight team comp is proving a good contest in most cases and with experience and youth in a range of the sides, it's great to have such a situation.

In the five team Manning seconds comp, the newbies - Gloucester Bushrangers - head the table and have a bye so will start 2020 on top.

The two vs three encounter between Old Bar and Great Lakes at Tuncurry, on a deck that is getting plenty of work from Warwick Chapman and Rob Withers, handling the drought sensibly with grey water to the fore, will be a telling match.

Wingham and Taree West will be eager to stay in touch and are still in reach of the top sides so that too will be a vital game to end the year.

Best wishes to all clubs and those battling the dryness and smoke, whether cricketers or not.

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