County Representative Match Huntingdonshire (121-3) bt RAF (117) by seven wickets HUNTINGDONSHIRE got their 2008 season off to a stunning start with a convincing victory against an RAF representative for the second year running. There were county debuts f

County Representative Match

Huntingdonshire (121-3) bt RAF (117) by seven wickets

HUNTINGDONSHIRE got their 2008 season off to a stunning start with a convincing victory against an RAF representative for the second year running.

There were county debuts for wicketkeeper Paul Davidge, who has minor counties experience, and for Michael Lloyd - a recent Australian recruit on the books at Godmanchester Town.

After being put into bat the RAF could only crawl to 117, with impressive bowling from Amar Hussain (3-36) and Simon Rose (3-17). Under 17 star James Sykes put down 10 overs of leg-spin for just 28 runs.

Hunts set about the reply with real relish and Ben Clement (43) led the way as the target was reached with 33 overs to spare.

Smith Barry Junior

At Upwood, Sawtry gained sweet revenge for their opening day league thrashing as they posted 230-5 with Alun Hollocks (58) and Sam Journee (63*) the main contributors. In reply, Upwood disintegrated to 116 all out, with Shaun Hubbard (4-28) and skipper Alun Hollocks (3-13) giving nothing away.

East Anglian Premier League

Godmanchester (220) bt Fakenham (168) by 52 runs.

Godmanchester made it two from two as they ran in a comfortable 52 run win against Fakenham. Batting first, skipper Bevis Moynan watched his side struggle to lunch at 123-4 with the top order performing well below the expected level but Paul Swannell (57) and Matt Pateman (51) stemmed the tide.

Fakenham's reply was in tatters at 106-7 but they nearly managed to salvage a draw as the last two wickets held out for 15 overs before Praneeth Jayasundera (4-44) removed the final batsman.

Hunts Division 1

UPWOOD record their second victory at Alconbury. Steven Tuffin (56) and Matt Taylor (54) put together a 100 partnership after early losses as Upwood closed on a respectable 177-8. The home side's reply struggled to get going with only skipper Neil Suckling (33) showing any form as they sank to 110 all out - Ollie Verrall (3-30) was the most successful bowler.

Ian Bonsall (20) was the only Sawtry batsman to give any resistance to Burghley Park on a difficult wicket which saw his side crash to just 75 all out.

The home side fared even worse and were shot out for a paltry 70 with Kiwi Sam Journee (3-20) and Jim Davis (3-20) almost unplayable.

Huntingdon bounced back after an opening day defeat to overwhelm Dean. Nomi Khan (3-23) was the pick of the bowlers as Dean crawled to 84 all out in 35 overs.

In reply Huntingdon cruised to victory in 16.2 overs for loss of three wickets with young opener Craig Leigh (38) starring.

Barnack proved a cut above Ramsey II as they amassed 313-5 while Ramsey could only manage 173 all out.

Hunts Division 2

THE runs flowed faster than the Ouse in full flood at Houghton where Perkins were the visitors. Bowling first, Houghton skipper Simon Wales pulled a muscle after three overs, leaving his troops to suffer at the hands of Naz Hussain (157) who helped his side to 354-9.

Houghton were not overawed and father and son duo Pete (32) and Tom Warman (80), along with Wales (31), carried the attack to their opponents. At the fall of the final wicket there were still three overs unused and Houghton had fallen 31 runs short of the target.

A fine knock from number nine Jim Keys (43*) gave Warseley II a win over Warboys II . Their innings closed on 157-7 and Keys (6-32) promptly removed his pads and destroyed Warboys with his bowling. Only veteran Graham Cross (27) showed any real resistance as Warboys were humbled at 104 all out.

Buckden continued their good form with an emphatic win against Ufford Park as they reached 200-9, mainly thanks to opener Guy Shorley (89), ably supported by David Bennett (29) and Richard Harris (28). In reply the visitors always struggled against steady bowling the pick of which was John Mews (5-27) in a tricky spell.

Goddy III lost by 2 wickets at Old Eastonians

Hunts Division 3

YAXLEY II struggled against some accurate bowling by the Eaton Socon II pair of Joe Dawbourn (4-23) and Matt Childerley (3-46) and finished on 143 all out.

Socon had little difficulty in reaching the required total with Bob Nicklin (46) and Matt Childerley (40) in aggressive mood.

Upwood II fell to a four-wicket defeat at the hands of Bharat Sports.

Hunts Division 4

EATON Socon XI had little trouble seeing off Castor by 91 runs. Joe Dawbourn (40) was among the runs as Socon took the visiting bowlers for 169 runs. The bowlers got to work to destroy the feeble line up for just 78 with Callum West (3-11) showing great control.

Chris Hoy (4-30) changed the course of the match for Warboys II against Werrington after the visitors had raced to 90-1. Werrington lost their last nine wickets for just 75 runs and it was left to Chris's father Mick Hoy (39) to steer the side home with time and wickets to spare.

Alconbury II defeated visitors Hampden by five wickets while Hilton's visit to Werrington saw the home side win comfortably.

Hunts Division 5

BRAMPTON started their league campaign with a good win against Sawtry III after being inserted. After a steady start the home side's middle order wobbled before a late rally from the lower order took the total to 214 all out with good knocks from Andy Pegram (34) and Oliver Day (33).

Luke Reed (63) led the Sawtry response this after returning bowling figures of 4-47. Duncan McGregor (4-29) made sure the home side kept their noses in front as Sawtry fell to 171 all out.

Tucker 1

MICHAEL Lloyd fell just one run short of his half century as Godmanchester II fell to a heavy defeat at March. The second top run contributor in Goddy's total of 136 was the extras column and March knocked off the runs for the loss of just two wickets, while elsewhere Ramsey lost to Burwell.

Tucker 2

FORDHAM and Eaton Socon are already looking like the draw specialists of the league as this match plodded to a stalemate. Fordham closed on 201-9 after fine bowling by Jon Carpenter (5-64). Socon's reply faded to 161-6 with Paul Fielding (34) top scoring.

Cambridge NCI posted 202-8 against Waresley , whose bowling was led by Nigel Buckingham-Jones (4-38). In reply Waresley looked to be stuttering at 140-6 until a rally by middle order batsmen Steve Warman (43) and Daniel Szwajbek (43) pushed them to the total. Luke Bosher (31) saw them to the final over and the win was complete when Kevin Cole stroked the ball away.

Elsewhere, Kimbolton slumped to defeat against Foxton.

Cambs League

In 5A Needingworth II recorded an emphatic win against Over. Mark Sirot-Smith (101) and Jack Prime (34) put on 100 for the first wicket as the team totalled 236-2. Prime (5-8) followed his knock with a superb display of slow left arm bowling to dismiss Over for a mere 109.

Elsewhere, St Ives lost to Stapleford, Yelling lost to Ely, Needingworth lost to Isleham, Somersham beat Cherry Hinton, Fordham beat St Ives , Elsworth beat Fulbourn II, Fenstanton beat Wimblington, Somersham II lost to March III, Ely II lost to St Ives III , Sutton beat Bluntisham II , Granta V beat Elsworth II and Needingworth II beat Over III.

Rutland 4

EATON Socon will rue the dropped catches that cost them dearly in the game against Long Sutton. Having scored 164 all out with Tom Walker (42) proving to be the best with the bat Sutton cruised to the total with just three wickets down.

Beds 3

HEXTON felt the full weight of Aswin Reddy's (105*) bat as he compiled a fine innings in Waresley's total of 222-4. Hexton's reply fell some way short at 158-7 with seven different bowlers taking a wicket.

Other Matches

HUNTINGDON II made an impressive 201 all out against an Upwood XI. Nathan Pond (65) and Jake Moore (45) led the way with the bat and Simon Frost (4-41) was the pick of the Upwood bowlers. Upwood never put the score in danger and fell to 139 all out with Daniel Coles (5-21) and Moore (4-26) showing their skills with the ball.

A Warboys XI entertained Cambourne and finished with a slim three-run victory. Their total of 180 was due largely to Ian Trafford (34) and Daniel Wright (33). Jack Skidmore (4-18) then made sure Cambourne's total was made as difficult as possible and they fell to 177 all out on the last ball of the final over.

Against Ramsey , Warboys were made to struggle as Matthew Slack (56*) put bat to ball Rams closing on 116-6. The batting never got to grips with the Rams attack and were all out for 73.

Junior Round Up

RAMSEY U15s batted first at Dean and totalled 102-3 with Dan Malem (51) riding his luck to set his team a good total. Dean struggled against some hostile bowling and mustered only 47 with Tom Gaskell ending the match with a hat-trick being well supported by Martin Fairhurst (3-18).

Needingworth U13s saw off a spirited Huntingdon side by 23 runs after scoring 93-7. Sam Hiron (27*) and Alex Digpal-Race (20) providing the substance. Huntingdon's Jonny Wyecraft (2-9) was the pick of the bowlers. Huntingdon struggled to boss Needingworth bowlers Tommy McCarthy (2-7) and Hirons (2-9) and fell well short.

Godmanchester U11s squeezed home in a classic match against Peterborough. After batting first, Goddy reach 105-3 with Brad West (32) top scoring. Peterborough got off to a bad start but recovered and fell just short on 101-9, with Jake Baynes (3-19) proving the star with the ball.

Waresley U11s beat Warboys U11 Girls in what was the Warboys team's first competitive match. The home side made hay by scoring 171 runs whilst Warboys could muster 23.

At Godmanchester, Warboys U13s had a real nail-biting one run win. Warboys' total of 90-5 was due in no small part to Tom Skidmore (45) and with Goddy needing two off the final ball for victory, Skidmore clean bowled the last batsman.