Stepien stars in Under-18 State Champs opener
The left-hander was dismissed for 107 from just 81 balls and smashed six fours and seven sixes.
After winning the toss and batting first, the Bulls scored a patient 9-171 from their 50 overs, Brayden Turner top scoring with 54 and Matt Smith chipping in with an unbeaten 36.
Liam Bowe was the pick of the bowlers with 4-25.
Led by Stepien, the Northern Rivers were rarely challenged in their run chase, passing the target just two wickets down.
Layton McCann (15) played a great supportive role to the century maker, as the openers put on 101 for the first wicket.
Kyle Winter-Irving smashed a quick 53 (36 balls) to help the victors compile a massive total of 302.
In other results from round one, the Western Spirit defeated the South East Bayside Breakers by just six runs in a nail-biter.
The Spirit batted first and struggled to 8-66 before opener Jarryd Clements (50*) and number ten Jack Mattson put on 94 for the ninth wicket, guiding the total to 9-166.
Cameron Watts was the best of the bowlers picking up 3-29 (10).
The Breakers also stumbled throughout their innings, before eventually requiring seven runs to win from the last over with one wicket in hand.
Watts was run out early in the over however, handing the Spirit the win.
Nicholas Suppree (37) and William Taylor (35) batted well, while Daniel Raniolo (2-17) was the only multiple wicket taker for the Spirit.
In a low-scoring affair, the Outer East Eagles defended a modest total of 108 (Lincoln Wong 38, Louis Gillies 4-8) and came out on top against the South East Sharks (Mitchell Rowe 32).
Opening bowler Mark Butler was the match winner for the Eagles, taking 5-18 (8.2).
The Southern Pioneers limped to a total of 157 (Kirk Dickson 38, Andrew Humphries 38, Jakeb Thomas 4-14) before Gippsland Pride passed the target with just three wickets down.
The Pride went on to make 6-230 from its 50 overs, Kade Burns (47) top scoring.
North East Knights skipper Tearan Gleeson (81*) led his side to a 24-run victory over the Inner East Emus.
The Knights batted first and made a solid 7-196 from their allotted overs.
In response, the Emus (Liam Smith 41) simply couldn’t get the run rate as high as what was required in the middle overs and fell short (9-172 from 50 overs).
In a match reduced to 45 overs per side, the Northern Falcons cruised to victory against the Central Highlands, chasing down the target with five wickets in hand.
Highlanders skipper Blake Thomson (87) did everything he could to set up a big total for his side, but the Falcons (led by Luke Joyce with 4-34) contained the score to 8-166.
Joyce continued his great game by scoring 72 and leading the Falcons to 5-181 and the win.
In the remaining games, the North West Wizards (9-290) defeated the Inner South East Scorpions (9-166) and the Barwon Rockets (8-259) defeated the Western Waves (251).
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