With Saturday marking the first game on the Phillip Hughes Oval ringed by the new white picket fence, both teams were keen to bat early for bragging rights over who hit the fence first.

But it was the Bulls who won the toss and elected to bat, and it was Chris McDonald who won the honour of the first four.

Chris continued to aim for the fence, managing a few sixes, and scoring 47 runs off just four overs.

The shining new fence gave everyone a target to hit over and the Bulls finished up their innings 9/248.

Best batsmen on the day were Chris McDonald (47), Michael Stennett (49), Dane Luffman (76), and special mentions go to 12-year-old Quinn Cooper (22), and 13-year-old Brayth Ledger (15).

When it was Country Club's turn to step up to the crease, they faced the onslaught of Pud Ledger, who sent five batsmen packing, and pulled off a hat-trick.

Macksville Country Club were all out for 117. Best batsmen were Chris Budden (40) and Damien Frost (24).

Best bowlers for the Bulls were Pud Ledger 5/21 and 12-year-old Rielly Laverty 2/19.

Macksville Ex-Services were the winners with their first real win this season.

Macksville Hotel v Pub With No Beer at Taylors Arm

The drive out to Taylors Arm showed the devastation of the recent bush fires with lots of burnt out trees, grass and a few farm sheds creating a sombre mood for the first game of cricket in nearly three weeks.

Players were greeted by a lot smoke from the wind that had just got up in the last hour and it didn't look like great conditions for a game.

Both teams got together and decided to play 20 overs per side so players were not out in the smoke too long and so we could get a game in.

Pub With No Beer won the toss and chose to bat first.

Both teams were undermanned but keen to get the game on.

At the 10 overs drink break Pub with No Beer were 2/36 and needed to get a wriggle on in the second 10 overs.

42 off the last five overs got them to 6/111 after 20 overs.

Karl Cooper (59 not out) and Nigel Wilbow (20 not out) shared that partnership of 42 unbeaten.

Best Bowlers for Macksville Hotel were Jason Ahearn 4/20 off four overs and Curtis Ellis 2/9 off his four overs.

Macksville Hotel never looked troubled going into drinks at 1/80 and passed the required total after 13 overs, Joseph Newman 55 not out and Leif Stuart 42 not out.

Best bowlers for Pub With no Beer were Darrell Welsh 1/22 off four overs and Brandon Willer 0/7 off two overs.

Macksville Hotel were the winners and remain undefeated this season.

Bowraville won on forfeit against Scotts Head who couldn't get the required numbers to play.

Pub With No Beer v Macksville Ex-services Bulls at Phillip Hughes Oval

Scotts Head v Macksville Hotel at Scotts Head

Nambucca Heads v Bowraville at Coronation Park.

Macksville Country Club have the BYE.

Valleys were defeated by Northern Districts Rebels.

Valleys batted first and finished their 40 overs 7/153, Brodie Bartlett (59) and Josh Barlett (35 not out) were the best with the bat.

In reply, Northern Districts Rebels passed the target in the 33rd over.

Best bowlers for Valleys were Aiden Statham 2/30 off eight overs and Kurt Stennett 1/19 off 4.2 overs.

This Saturday Valleys host Sawtell at Rowe Oval in Dorrigo.

Questions over the fate of the Pub With No Beer

Macksville's emergency fodder station pares back operations