University student Alex Battese took his first-ever five wicket haul for Goonellabah Workers Sports in the Northern Rivers Cricket League First Grade competition on Saturday afternoon.

Goonellabah Workers Sports travelled to Casino to face Cecil Magpies, who won the toss and elected to bat.

GWS' opening pace bowler Michael German took the first three wickets in a great spell of bowling, dismissing Nick Armstrong, Mark O'Neill and Harrison Thompson with just 15 runs on the board. German bowled five overs, with two maidens and took three wickets for just seven runs.

Opener Fletcher Schofield and Ben MacDonald steadied the home side and Alex Battese came on after the first change bowlers Damien Santin and Reece Gregor.

"I was lucky the pitch was doing a bit," said Alex. "Reece Gregor and Damien Santin were outstanding, stopping the runs and creating all the pressure for me. A few good catches by Brad Robertson and Riley Gregor helped me out too. "

Alex Battese took five wickets for 24 runs in eight overs.

"It was a good to get a few wickets after the Christmas break, especially since I hadn’t taken five for a few years," said Alex, who is about to start his second year studying for a law/environmental science degree at Griffith University in Brisbane.

"I definitely have bowled better this season for no reward but that’s cricket. Hopefully we can win a few more games before the finals start."

Cecil Magpies were bowled out for 103 in just the 17th over.

In further encouraging news for Goonellabah Workers Sports, opener Kale Hare hit a second-high 51 as he and Josh Clark (41) put on 91 runs for the first wicket.

GWS managed to lose four wickets in three runs, all to Thompson, before Brad Robertson and Andrew Kemmis saw them home for a six wicket win in the 36th over.

The win strengthened Goonellabah Workers Sports' hold on second place before the meeting with the unbeaten Marist Brothers at Mortimer Oval on Saturday.

Northern Rivers Cricket League First Grade Round 12

Goonellabah Workers Sports defeated Cecil Magpies by six wickets;

Marist Brothers defeated Northern Districts by eight wickets;

Casino RSM Redbacks defeated Lismore Workers by two wickets.

Points score: Marist Brothers 60; Goonellabah Workers Sports 48.Northern Districts 39, Lismore Workers 37, Casino RSM Redbacks 28, Cecil Magpies 23