St Patrick's opener Matt Crawshaw has revealed the captaincy wore him down over the past three seasons.

Dean Nicholson took over the Patties' top job and his predecessor has found form, posting 43 and 88.

"I suppose it has (taken the pressure off), I didn't think the captaincy affected me, but my output as a batsman's probably been down, so I suppose it has helped," he said.

The left-hander debuted as a 16-year-old in October, 2012 and had a breakout 2015-16 with 556 runs at 56, including three tons, which remain his highest scores.

BEN'S BACK

North Albury welcomed back Ben Fulford against the Patties.

Fulford debuted for the Hoppers in 2009-10 and hadn't played for the club since 2012-13.

It was a tough return too as the visitors were 4-45 in reply to the Patties' 5-186 when rain stopped play, although the number five batsman remained unbeaten on 10.

The match was declared a draw as North hadn't faced the 20 overs needed for a result.

Fulford has spent much of his time in Canberra, playing in a football premiership at Queanbeyan in 2015 and joining the Canberra Demons for the 2017 NEAFL season.

LIGHTNING START

While Matt Crawshaw has blasted from the blocks with the bat, it's the same story for North quick Jake Burge.

The right-armer has taken 8-59 in the first two rounds, including 5-27 against Albury in the opening round.

He followed it with 3-32 against St Pat's.

The Leongatha product arrived at North last year after two years playing first grade with Palm Beach on the Gold Coast and made an immediate impact, finishing second on the wicket-takers with 38 at 13.7.

North coach and off-spinner Tendai Power Maruma showed his class, deceiving set batsmen Crawshaw (88) and Dean Nicholson (52) to have them stumped.

TOUGH AT THE TOP

Corowa's top and middle order has quickly discovered the standard of the bowling at provincial level.

In its first year in the top grade after three in district, Corowa has been in early trouble at 5-21 against Lavington and 5-33 against Albury last Saturday.

Admittedly, Lavington has the quickest new-ball attack in NSW Country speedster Ryan Brown and rep paceman David Tassell, while Albury contested the preliminary final and added former Sri Lankan first-class spinner Mahesh Kodamullage.

The positive has been the fight of the lower order with number seven Matt Wilson (30 not out) pushing the total past 100.

STAR SLEDGED

Corowa certainly targeted Albury gun James McNeil.

McNeil, who has played first grade in both Sydney and Melbourne and is currently Melbourne Uni's captain, compiled a classy 75 from 72 balls.

"James was great, but he got sledged all day," coach Luke Styles said.

"It was standard stuff and not that it worried James.

"He played a couple of reverse sweeps, one bounce fours, James and Kade Brown (50 from 45 balls) really took it to them in that middle patch."

McNeil is waiting for Victorian Premier's start.

Wodonga has all-rounder Jack Craig doing likewise, but it's had two washouts.

FRIENDS LIKE THIS ...

Being sledged by the opposition is tough enough, but it's even harder from team-mates.

Belvoir co-coach Drew Cameron nabbed a golden duck in the win over New City.

"Drew claims he didn't hit it," Lachie McMillan laughed.

And the Eagles weren't about to let the popular Cameron forget it in a hurry.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"Oh absolutely and he was dirty, he's been hitting the ball really well in the nets as well, doing a heap of extra sessions," McMillan added.

The great aspect of being a coach, of course, is making a mental note of who led the sledging charge and possibly consider where he might bat next time.