The first team started off the 2022 campaign with a strong display against newly promoted Guilsfield this weekend.

With typical first game temperatures and weather, we won the toss and elected to field as Olly Upton made his first team debut. Some very tidy bowling from the opening pair of Robbie Barker and Will Davis kept the run rate down as both bowlers beat the edge several times. Will finally made the breakthrough thanks to a top catch from George Daly at mid off. Ben Jones came into the attack and proceeded to bowl one of the best first team spells in recent years claiming figures of 5-14 from 10.5 overs with 5 maidens in a row. Some further top fielding from George and Will meant that the visitors reached drinks at 60-5. We eventually bowled out the opposition for 112 with 2 overs left after some dogged resistance. Zoe Griffiths and Olly battled well in tough conditions for bowling, Will picked up 3 wickets, Sam Rogers 1 and there was a run out for skipper Charlie Rogers.

In reply some short pitched bowling from the Guilsfield opener saw Robbie fall early. Charlie joined former 1st team captain James Upton at the crease. The two coaches put on 85 runs for the second wicket as they set about chasing down the target. James played some top shots as he reached his half century in his first game for the 1s since 2018. However he fell quickly afterwards edging behind to the keeper. Charlie didn’t play his finest shot as he went not long afterwards as he was caught for 30. This left Jordan Barker to see us over the line by smashing 14 not out all in boundaries including a winning six (show off)!

A great way to start the season, next week we travel to Acton Reynald looking to build on this weekend’s performance.