Nineteen-year-old Ryan Lee took three wickets in three overs of quick bowling to give Marist Brothers Cricket Club a chance of victory against the reigning Far North Coast Cricket Council's L J Hooker Premiers Cudgen on their home ground.

Brad Cleaver won the toss for Brothers and elected to bat at Reg Dalton Oval. Ash Simes and Damien Vidler batted beautifully to have Brothers 1/103 before they both fell on that score. Simes hit 54 runs in 46 balls and Vidler 39 in 41 balls. Then Brothers collapsed to be 6/121 before Stuart Rose and Blake Taylor bravely tried to turn the tide back in their team's favour. The pair put on 30 before Taylor was out for 23 off 60 balls. then the tail end was bowled out cheaply leaving Rose unbeaten on 19 off 61 balls. Marist Brothers were bowled out for 177 in the 48th over.

"It was a mixed innings. Ash and Damien did so well and then Cudgen did well to pin us back and restrict us to 177," said Cleaver.

Connor Ziebell was the pick of Cudgen's bowlers with 4/32 with brother and captain Caleb Ziebell taking 3/18.

Brothers knew that quick wickets with the new ball on a hard and flat pitch were vital to have any chance and Brothers had to try and get the wickets of Cudgen's star batsmen Caleb Ziebell and Alec Williams.

Cleaver threw the new ball to Brendan Mitchell and Lee and the pair did not let him down.

"Brendo picked up Caleb Ziebell cheaply lbw before some great bowing by Ryan saw him remove Alec Williams, another one of their dangerous batsmen," said Cleaver.

Lee, who made his Hooker League debt for Brothers at the age of 15, trapped opener Conor McDowell LBW for four runs in his second over and then removed Williams. Then in his fourth over he took the wicket of Connor Ziebell for two to leave Cudgen 4/26.

Dylan Stoddart and Pat Rosser hit anything loose and kept their wickets bravely before Mitchell clean bowled Stoddart for 24 with the score 5/65.

Rosser, who hit a career-high 99 in 58 balls in Cudgen's only other match against Lennox Head, was 49 not out off just 34 balls and had hit seven boundaries and two sixes.

Cudgen finished an eventful day at 5/102, needing another 76 runs to win. Lee took 3/32 and Mitchell 2/44.

"The key wicket is Pat Rosser. If we can get him early on Saturday I’m confident we can come away with a win," said Cleaver.

Cleaver will look to Mitchell, Lee, Jordy Salkeld, Blake Taylor and James Fennamore to pin down the batsmen and strike the vital blows. Henry Harris' spin might also prove crucial.

Ryan Lee is a great addition to Marist Brothers' pace attack of bowlers James Fennamore, Jordy Salkeld and Brendan Mitchell.

Lee left Brothers last season for a highly successful season at Ballina Bears, who decided not to compete this season.

The former Trinity Catholic College student, Lee works for Horn's Gas Services in South Lismore.

"It's feeling good to be back at Brothers," said Lee, who took 3/38 in the previous match against Tintenbar-East Ballina.

FNCCC's L J Hooker League Round 5 First of Two Days

Pottsville 5/328 declared (Jayden Hoare 116, Jamie Tripp 100 not out, Joe Allan 76 not out, Damien Santin 3/70) Lismore Workers 3/32 (Ryan McCloy 2/15)

Casino RSM Cavaliers 212 (Tim Martin 49 Charles Mitchell 37 Matt Bradshaw 36 Sam Dietrich 33 Ben Frost 4/54 Steven Leahy 3/49) Tintenbar-East Ballina 3/22 (Tom Carlton 2/9)

Murwillumbah 192 (Jackson Agius 102 Declan Brooks 34) Alstonville1/53