The Canaries claimed a 78-run victory over Helensburgh to climb to second on the ladder and Phillips said the goal is to keep improving.

"It was a good performance," Phillips said. "That's three in a row now, it's important to be in the top four before Christmas, so to be sitting second, we're in pretty good stead right now."

The Canaries may have been without veteran opener Dale Scifleet, but that didn't slow the batting lineup, with four players passing 50.

Teenager Jayden Zahra-Smith scored 83, while Phillips contributed 75 in Dapto's 5-305.

Playing on a flat Reed Park wicket, Helensburgh openers Ewan Cox and Mitch McCrae produced a 100-run partnership, but once Greg Jones broke through and removed both men, Dapto were in complete control.

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Zahra-Smith added three wickets of his own and Phillips said it's clear the emerging talent has a bright future ahead of him.

"The all-round performance Jayden put in was unbelievable, he's pretty much a class above most of us. He's only just back from injury, so he's only going to get better."

Saturday's other matches saw Northern Districts extend their unbeaten run, the Butchers claiming an eight-wicket win over an undermanned Balgownie.

Udara Jayasundara led Wests past Port Kembla, a Mark Johnston century laid the platform for a comfortable Keira win over Corrimal and Andrew Page steered University to victory over Wollongong.

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