Goonellabah Workers Sports have taken the honours in the LJ Hooker League local derby on Saturday.

Marist Brothers won the toss and sent Goonellabah in at Oakes Oval in warm conditions.

The Goonellabah top order all had starts, but the Brothers attack, led by Thomas Lindsay, managed to contain the danger men early on.

Damien Santin and Nathan Bezrouchko both top scored with 41 apiece late in the innings, with Kale Hare adding 36 and Tom Standish finishing with 28 in the solid total of 7/234 off 50 overs.

Lindsay was the best of the bowlers with 3/41 off 8 overs, Tom Molloy had 2/50 and Captain Brendan Mitchell took 1/30.

In reply, Marist Brothers started well, with Pat Martin (29) and big hitting Israr ul Mabood (44) combining for a first wicket partnership of 72.

Cooper Williams added 29 at first drop, before the wickets began to fall, with tight bowling from the GWS attack making it difficult for the middle order to score freely.

Alec Watson was economical with 3/17 off 8 overs to be the best of the bowlers, with Kevin Warid taking 3/18 off 4.

Hare, Santin and Reece Gregor took the remaining wickets to see Brothers all out for 176 in the 34th over, unable to chase down the total.

The win for Goonellabah pushes the side back to equal first on the LJ Hooker League table, sitting below Tweed Banora Colts on quotient.

The third loss in a row for Brothers sees them slip to sixth, 3 points out of the top four.

Next week Goonellabah are at home to fourth placed Tintenbar East Ballina at Oakes Oval and Marist Brothers will travel to Lennox Head to take on the Pirates in a must-win game.