Following on from his maiden 50 for the club in their loss to Albion the previous week, the opener fell just four runs shy of making it two half-centuries in-a-row as they hammered Kookaburras by 91 runs.

One of several handy pick-ups for Mornington this season after moving to Gunnedah last April to take up a posting as a probationary constable, Saturday was only Smith's third game for them due to injury and work commitments.

The previous week had been the first time he'd really picked up a bat since he broke his finger fielding in a Twenty20 game back in November.

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His first posting, the Wollongong native said he is enjoying Gunnedah.

"It's good, it's a good town," he said.

Policing wasn't something the 23-year old had always dreamed of doing but after finishing up in the army - a broken leg cutting short his time with them - he thought the force was something he'd like to get into.

"I thought it would be an interesting career and it's been good," he said.

Having played cricket pretty much since he was old enough to, Smith, whose pedigree includes first grade in Wollongong and some lower grade cricket in Sydney, was keen to get involved with a local club. Work contacts put him in touch with Mornington keeper Andrew Johns.

Against Albion pretty much a lone ranger with Daniel Blinman (14) the only other batsmen to reach double figures, on Saturday he had good support from Justin Carter (27), the pair putting on 93 for the first wicket before on 46 Smith "got carried away" and "played a bit of a silly shot".

He was looking pretty comfortable at the crease, peeling off four fours in his 58-ball stay.

Fortunately it didn't seem to stall Mornington's momentum too much with Henry Johns chipping in with 24 and Ben Hennessy 21 as they made 7-166 from their 40 overs.

It was hard work for the Kookaburras bowlers, Bailey Keeler faring the best with 2-29 from his seven.

In reply they lost Himasekhar Jingilipalem with just one run on the board and from there it was a steady tumble of wickets.

They were 4-20 at one stage before being bowled out for 75.

Mitch Foster did the early damage and finished with 4-18.

Keeler was again the standout for Kookaburras with 18.

It was a good weekend for Smith with his Karen Carter Chemist side also picking up a win in their Gunnedah Premier League opener.

In the other first grade game, in a prelude to his match winning innings for the district side Oscar King top-scored with with 42 as Court House posted 7-125 in their clash with Albion.

After King's early fireworks (he cracked six fours), the Albion bowlers, led by Luke Ryan, were able to tighten the screws a bit. Ryan was at one point on a hat-trick and went on to concede just eight runs from his eight overs with two wickets.

It was a sorry batting card for Albion, Damien Baldwin's 19 the top score as they were bundled out for 71. Sam Doubleday claimed 4-16 and Braithen Winsor 3-8.