The Blues were pushed until the final over in their pursuit of 182 before reaching the target with three balls and five wickets to spare.

Youngster Ben Simpson (9*) hit the winning run and opener Josh Partridge made 43, but it was Pete New's 78 that proved the match-winner.

The wicket-keeper hit six fours in a knock that saw the visitors through to within three runs of the target.

"It was a very mature innings from Pete," Riverside captain Tom Garwood said.

"He knew where he needed to be at what over so it's only a kick-start for him, we're looking forward to seeing more results from him."

MORE CRICKET: Q&A: Talking Denmark with South's NTCA recruit

Cricket North: 2019-20 season preview

Is this Cricket North's new great Dane?

Simpson raises the bat in quality knock for Tassie

Earlier, a Knights side fielding four debutants in the absence of Sean Harris and Jeremy Jackson put on 59 for the first wicket before Sam Artis (2-34) and Jesse Homan (3-42) began to rip through the middle order.

Opener Brodie Jarrad (80) was the Knights' standout with a breakout A-grade performance while teammate Josh Freestone (4-27) was typically hot with the ball.

"[Brodie] really batted well today," Knights skipper Tom Waller said.

"He gave himself plenty of time and backed himself and really anchored himself for most of the innings.

"It was a little bit disappointing not to win, I think we had plenty of chances out there ... hopefully we can just put it down to some early season rustiness."

ELSEWHERE IN SPORT

LAUNCESTON got its season off to a dream start with a double bonus point win over Mowbray.

Posting 218 after an 89-run fifth-wicket stand between young opener Sam Elliston-Buckley and Ethan Conway, the Lions rolled Mowbray for 98 inside 33 overs to secure a 120-run victory.

Only Eagles skipper James Storay and Shaun Avent made it into double figures for the Eagles as James Curran (4-12) and Patrick Morehouse (3-12) collected their best A-grade figures.

Elliston-Buckley rounded off his game with two catches and a stumping.

"He batted really well, so did Ethan," Lions vice-captain Ben Humphrey said.

"Both got their personal-best scores in first-grade so that's a really good start to their seasons.

"After a couple of months' work in pre-season, to get the result we did was excellent."

Westbury recruit Jared Mason (4-20) proved the Eagles' silver lining on debut as Storay was left to rue spilled chances from both Conway and Elliston-Buckley.

"We just let ourselves down with our fielding a bit," Storay said.

"The back end we bowled really well and the front end we bowled really well, we just went away from what we wanted to through the middle overs.

"But that's what happens when we're young and pretty inexperienced in terms of A-grade games played."

Know a junior sport star? Make a nomination for our 2019 Junior Sports Awards here.