Last season's preliminary finalists are yet to taste success through the first round of the new-look season after falling 72 runs short at McPherson Oval on Saturday.

Sending Wagga City into bat, St Michaels soon rued that decision as Ben Turner and Thompson got the Cats off to a strong start.

Turner was the main aggressor with his 46 runs coming off 63 balls and featured nine boundaries.

The Cats captain admitted it was a good toss to lose as he watched Turner set a brilliant platform from the other end.

"I didn't really know what to do going out to the toss as I knew it would be hard if we batted first and there was probably a chance to take early wickets if we bowled," Thompson said.

"Losing the toss was probably a good thing and Ritchie (Turner) batting the way he is at the moment is taking a lot of pressure off myself at the top of the order.

"He made it look really easy from his end."

Thompson was then able to accelerate himself as he top scored with 59 while good contributions from Aaron Maxwell (44) and Max Harper (37) down the order helped Wagga City finish at 5-231 from their 50 overs.

He was pleased to see a real team effort to post the big score.

"Everyone stepped up and everyone knew their role," Thompson said.

"With wickets in hand at the end we tried to launch in the last eight to 10 overs and I'm really proud of the boys for notching up 230.

"Aaron Maxwell had his first decent hit of the year and hit the ball really well while Max Harper carried on his good form with 37 off about the same amount of balls."

In response, Saints struggled to build partnerships in the run chase.

Coach Justin Ward (49) and captain Beck Frostick (48) threatened to make it a contest when they put on 65 runs for the third wicket.

However when Thompson ran out Ward after some indecision in the middle the Saints struggled to recover.

Thompson then cleaned up the lower order to finish with 4-30 as Saints made 159.

"I was pretty lucky to be honest with a couple of straight balls that they played across the line," he said.

"There was a bit in it for the bowlers so it was a good cricket wicket.

"You had to bat well to score runs and it was the same bowling - if you slacked off and went too wide or too full it was pretty easy to play through the line but back of a length it was a good cricket wicket."

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