The Cats beat Creswick by 54 points at Hammond Park on Saturday.

Newlyn skipped away to a handy lead at quarter time and was never seriously challenged on the scoreboard for the rest of the game.

The Wickers threatened to make a second-half comeback but Cat forward Scott McKay kicked two goals in the third quarter to extend the lead to 36 points.

Recruit Dale Thomas kicked two of the next three goals to put the match out of Creswick's reach.

Newlyn's Thomas, who finished with four majors, showed class around the packs and up forward. Coach Jamie Wilson was a major ball winner in the middle and ruckman David Jones showed plenty as he battled hard with

midfielders Scott Dimond and Ben Pidgeon.

Creswick's best was Tim Rieniets, who tried his best to lift his team and led by example.

Newlyn's Chris Eastwell challenged for best-on-ground honours.

For Creswick, recruits Andrew Walshe in the ruck, Tom Wright, Mick Griffin and another recruit, Simon Zele showed promise.

Given the Bulldogs' sluggish start to the year, Creswick will like its chances of causing an upset but its lesser lights need to improve to achieve the much-needed first win.

The Wickers will be staring down the barrel at a season of lost hope if it loses against the reigning premier at Victoria Park on Saturday.

After playing two of the competition's weaker teams so far, Newlyn this week has a chance to build its reputation as a side that will have some say during the finals.