Two of the three top tier matches have already progressed well past a first-innings result, with only the battle between Deniliquin (second) and Katamatite (third) remaining in the balance after day one of round 13 play.
The Boosey Creek Tigers made the long road trip north to face the Rhinos, electing to bat first after winning the toss.
Both openers were quickly back in the sheds, but from there each of the next six batsmen who strode to the crease got a start.
James Tierney (71) and Sam Dorsey (58) were able to push on and raise the bat, but the likes of Ash Saunders (36), Brayden Beaton (30), Tom Casha (25) and Jamie Magowan (10) also contributed heavily to have the visitors 255 all-out with six overs remaining in the day.
Deniliquin was unable to negotiate the tricky period before stumps without losing opener Dean Edge for one, but Boddie Arthur (11 not out) and Mandus Venter (two not out) will resume next week with the scoreboard reading 1-15 chasing 241 more runs for victory.
Earlier it was Evan Pocock who did most of the damage for the home side with 6-73 from 17 overs - including five maidens.
Brodie Bennett (2-51) also claimed multiple victims with ball in hand.
● At the Nathalia Showgrounds, it was Barooga's Daniel Ellis who took centre stage, clubbing an as-yet unbeaten 123 from 121 deliveries.
The opener had plenty of competition from his Hawks teammates for the title of headline act of the day - with Justin Maley (6-23) and Saranjit Kalsi (4-40) ripping through Nathalia's batting order - but his 18 boundaries and the fact he will again stride to the crease on day two to resume hostilities against the host bowlers gave him top billing.
The Purples had won the toss and elected to claim first use of their home deck, reaching 49 without loss thanks to Luke Quinn (28) and Brodie Ross (19), but quickly fell in a hole to be all-out for 95.
Brayden Summerville (24) showed some resistance down the order before Ellis proceeded to take full control of the clash for the Hawks.
Sam Leigh (29 not out from 78) went along for the ride and will join Barooga's swashbuckling star at the crease once more on day two with their side already on 6-208 with a 113-run advantage.
Adam Jorgensen snared 3-32 to impress with the ball for the Purples.
● Cobram also has first-innings points on the board against Tocumwal, dismissing the Bloods for 82 before reaching 4-150 at stumps.
Adam De Cicco is unbeaten on 59 at the halfway mark of the match, following up his 3-36 with the ball in superb fashion.
Tyron Baden (2-14 and 44) also dominated with bat and ball, while Wian Van Zyl cleaned up the Tocumwal tail with 2-0 from 2.3 overs and threatened to chase the side's score down himself before departing prematurely for 21.
Matteo Allen is yet to score for the Tigers and will join his skipper at the crease when day two starts.
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