SMR managed to make 4/96 from 26.2 overs when rain finally intervened for the final time and forced an end to play.

Rigby Vane-Wood was the most impressive with the ball taking 1-8 from six economical overs including three maidens. Russell Presland took 1-22, Jason Watson 1-26 and Dean Bridges 1-27.

Paterson have had a bit of a changing of the guard with a number of players from last year's team, which finished runners-up, unable to commit to playing this season because of work.

The side dominated last season winning the T20 premiership and dropping just a handful of games, but struggled with players away during the finals and went down by nine runs to Port Stephens in the grand final.

Club secretary Adam Kidd said the club was hoping for another strong year and to turn their grand final result around.

Kidd said the Vane-Wood brothers would be reunited this season with Rigby and Ramsey both playing A-grade this season.

He said the club still needed players to fill A and C-grade teams each week.

"Like last year we have a few players who will have to miss games throughout the year with work commitments and we need a bit of depth to ensure we can field teams in both grades," Kidd said.

Anyone interested can go to our Facebook page and get in touch through that.

With an eye to the future, Paterson will be fielding an Under-10 team in the Maitland Kookaburra Cricket program this week.

Paterson take on Eastern Suburbs in A-grade on Saturday and host Seaham in C-grade.

Stroud has made a winning start to their return to Dungog cricket chasing down Gresford's total of 76 in a rain-affected match.

The other two matches from the weekend between Karuah and Wallarobba and Clarence Town and Stockmans were washed out.

This week Wallarobba play Bunnies at Barnes Oval, Stockmans host Karuah at Vacy Sportsground and Gresford play Clarence Town at Gresford.

Stroud has the bye.