Marist Brothers had a great start in the resumption of Far North Coast Cricket Council's Two Day L J Hooker League after putting Lennox Head into bat on their home wicket at Megan Crescent.

Brothers lay fourth after five rounds with Lennox Head seventh going into the match, and a victory would propel Brothers' finals aspirations for the second half of the competition.

With Chris Jones elevated from First Grade, he shared the new ball with Brendan Mitchell, who had not played since the Round 4 First Innings victory over Cudgen last November. Jones had played Hooker League for Ballina, but this was his debut for Brothers at this level.

Mitchell had sent Head openers Jacob Graham and Tranan Burvill back to the fence with the total only 17 and then Jones got in on the act, dismissing Nicholas Asser and Tobyn Burvill to leave Head 4-28.

Mark Denmeade and Angus Callon got the home side back into the game, adding 71 runs before Brothers' all-rounder Stuart Rose had Callan (43) caught behind by Ash Simes. Rose clean-bowled Head captain Angus Fisher for a duck, leaving Head 6-110. Then Dan Hamshaw, also recalled to the Hooker League side, had Denmeade (40) caught by Henry Harris to have Head on the ropes at 7-119.

Head's Jarod Lofts had arrived at the crease, with a season high of 27. He was still there at the end of the first day's play with a fine 93 not out off 107 balls. He hit 13 boundaries in his highest score in the Hooker League.

Loft received good support from Todd Fisher (21) and when Justin Hooper fell it was 9-218 and Brothers set to bat late in the day.

However Ryan Lee, who left Brothers earlier this season, came in as Number 11 batsman and remained 25 not out as Lennox Head ended play 9-281.

Mitchell (3/41) and Jones (2/46) bowled 40 of Brothers' 74 overs. Rose took 2/32 off eight overs, Hamshaw 1/35 off six overs with Blake Davis, playing his final game for Brothers, took 1/21 off two overs.

"I am still confident we can do this," said Brothers' captain Brad Cleaver.

"I was really happy with how we bowled. It was a great start and Chris Jones and Brendan Mitchell bowled beautifully.

"I thought we bowled great. It is a good wicket, a very fast outfield and it's a small oval.

"We have the likes of Ash Simes and Damien Vidler batting really well. We can get there."

Lismore Workers match at Alstonville was rained off, with the event now a one-day affair next Saturday. Workers lie sixth on the same points score as Marist Brothers in fourth.

Two-Day Hooker League leaders Pottsville, unbeaten in both the Two Day and T20 leagues, have come unstuck against Cudgen, who posted a jaw-dropping 8/481 off 80 overs, with centuries to brothers Caleb Ziebell (150) and Connor Ziebell (125 not out). It was Caleb's second century of the Hooker League season and he boasts an average of 123.

Caleb Ziebell hit 150 runs as Cudgen put Hooker League leaders Pottsville to the sword.

Eighth-placed Tintenbar-East Ballina look set for at least First Innings points against the bottom club, Murwillumbah. Tinterbar-East Ballina's captain Abe Crawford won the toss and put the home side into bat at Rabjones Oval. With only eight players Murwillumbah were bowled out for 167 in 52 overs. Vincent Quigley hit 44 for Murwillumbah and Tintenbar-East Ballina's opening bowler Mitch Niland took a season and career-high 7 wickets for 43 runs. In reply the away side reached 1/91 with opener Mick Warburton on a season high 41 not out.

Two-Day L J Hooker League Round 6 (Day one)

Lennox Head 9/281 (J Lofts 93* A Callan 43 M Denmeade 40 R Lee 25* B Mitchell 3/41 S Rose 2/32 C Jones 2/46) v Marist Brothers Lismore, Megan Crescent, Lennox head;

Cudgen 8/481(C Ziebell 150 CA Ziebell 125* D Stoddart 55 S Weir 46 K Lohman 39 H Gray 32 RA McCloy 3/72 M Ekstrom 2/76 TT Burns 2/99) v Pottsville, Reg Dalton Oval, Kingscliff;

Murwillumbah 167 (V Quigley 44 WJ McLean 26 M Niland 7/43) v Tintenbar-East Ballina 1/91 (M Warburton 49*), Rabjones Oval, Murwillumbah; 

Alstonville v Lismore Workers, no play, Hill Park Oval, Wollongbar.