UPWOOD THE Tuffin brothers double act was enough to secure victory for Upwood II at home against Ickwell on Saturday. Ickwell batted first in the Hunts Three match, and they ran up a score of 180-9. Despite seven of their batsmen registering double-digit

UPWOOD

THE Tuffin brothers' double act was enough to secure victory for Upwood II at home against Ickwell on Saturday.

Ickwell batted first in the Hunts Three match, and they ran up a score of 180-9. Despite seven of their batsmen registering double-digit scores, few stayed long enough to make a significant impact on the scoreboard. Dave Robertson, batting at five, showed his quality with the bat before he was removed by Chris Newton (2-35) for 42.

Neil Tuffin (3-45) began to make life tough for the Ickwell batsmen, and despite Kandasamy Krishnaruban's (23*) late stand, he could not stretch the score beyond 180-9 after 45 overs.

In reply, Upwood lost wickets cheaply when opener Andrew Lea (3) was caught, and promising youngster Rob Sayer was bowled.The stage was set for the Tuffin brothers, and together they struck the runs that brought Upwood the points. Steven Tuffin (65*) just outscored brother Neil (64*) as they carried their team to 182-4, and a six-wicket win.

In Hunts League Five, 15-year-old Sayer starred for Upwood III at Newborough on Sunday. The home side batted first and were cruising before Upwood captain Chris Newton threw the ball to Sayer (7-27), who then nearly bowled the home side out single-handedly.

Newborough reached a competitive final total of 203 all out, but Upwood chased down the target with three overs to spare with good contributions throughout the lineup. Paul France (74) led the way with Alistair Hayden (24) offering support, but it wasleft to that man Sayer (20*) to take his team across the line.

EATON SOCON

TABLE-TOPPERS Brigstock were put firmly in their place by a buoyant Eaton Socon side in the Rutland Four game on Sunday.

Simon Cooper (5-23) put in a match-winning performance as Brigstock struggled to post a score, reaching 125 all out.

Socon's innings got off to a great start with Terry Day (38) and Matt Childerley (31) taking Socon towards their total of 126-4.

Alconbury II elected to bat first on a rather green wicket and proceeded to fashion a good score thanks to Richard King (49) and Dave Cotton (45). The final total of 186-8 looked competitive after the wickets had been shared by Shane De Silva, youngster Tom Burns and veteran Chris McKay. Socon's reply was positive and 71 runs were added for the first wicket. Tom Hilliard (69) led the chase for victory and Ryan Brown (29) added good runs with Will Taylor (22) playing an important role as Socon won with four balls to spare and two wickets left standing.

BUCKDEN

PAUL Berrill (57) steered Godmanchester III to 191-7 against Buckden in just 40 overs. Support came from James Howell (33) and Matt Knaepel (27) and a very high extras total (29). Buckden's John Mews (3-28) will have had worse days with the ball.

Buckden had the set-back of losing an early wicket but Guy Shorley (69) and Mews (55) put together a partnership of 123 for the second wicket. Sam Rowan (30*) then took charge to see Buckden over the line at 192-6.

BLUNTISHAM

RECENT form went out of the window as Bluntisham disposed of Yaxley in their Tucker Two match. Put into bat, Bluntisham lost early wickets with the ball seaming around but Steve Dighton (79*) and Paul Briggs (76) righted the ship to post 227-5. Yaxley batsmen showed little fight as Howard Mathson (5-24) ran riot with the ball and with Graham Parks (2-30) chipping in, Yaxley finished 101 all out.

BRAMPTON

SEVEN wickets from Brampton bowler Peter Boardman (7-30) left the Huntingdon II innings in a state of disarray after they had been invited to bat. Huntingdon's middle order provided some resistance and took the Huntingdon total to 159 all out. Mike Larkin (74) and Ian Purser (47*) took the sensible approach to steer Brampton to a seven-wicket win at 160-3.

WARBOYS

DESPITE the loss of an early wicket, visitors Warboys III racked up a very useful score against Werrington on Saturday. After winning the toss and deciding to bat, the visitors lost Robert Whitfield (0), but led by Matthew Lavender (59) and Grant McMurdo (44), Warboys posted a match winning score of 195-9.

The home side made Warboys work for the points but two wickets apiece for Sam Valance, Lavender and Adam Bird saw the points fly back to Warboys.

On Sunday Buckden II hosted the Hunts League Five match that saw the home side invited to bat by the Warboys captain Ed Trafford. Buckden were restricted to just 90 all out with only Lawrie Marsh (30) showing any form, and Warboys bowler Martin Lloyd (3-32) spearheading the attack. Buckden failed to put the skids under the Warboys reply as Tom Skidmore (39) and Michael Avery (24*) took the visitors to 93-3.

Against Wisbech in the Rutland League, Warboys won the toss and elected to field. The decision was justified as Wisbech sank to 75 all out with Sam Latchford (4-28) in real form with the ball. Matt Duncan (22) and Dominic Hills (15*) made sure of the points as Warboys reached 76-4.

SOMERSHAM

Somersham gave league leaders Dullingham a run for their money on Saturday and were pleased to see them dismissed for a below-par 155. The thorn in Dullingham's side was 15-year-old Sam Rippington (3-20 and 53) and he proved his worth with a steady knock when Somersham batted. Contributions from Joe Notarnicola (20) and Ian Boon (20) left Somersham just shy of the win at 139 all out.

Somersham II was indebted to Zunair Shahid (74) as he batted responsibly in the total of 137-7. It all proved in vain as Bluntisham's Richard Saltmarsh (47*) took his side to a five-wicket win.

In the Fenland Trophy on Sunday the Leverington bowlers were put to the sword by Rory Fenton (148*) who blasted 17 fours in his stay at the crease. Notarnicola (42) provided support as Somersham closed their innings at 262-4. Leverington never threatened and finished at 153-8 after Freddie Khan (4-23) had pinned them down.

ST IVES

BEVIS Moynan turned in a super all-round performance for Ives I against Doddington, who batted first and were soon in deep trouble.

After falling to 40-8 they did well to post 129 all out, with Moynan (4-20) and Ollie King (3-35) the pick of the bowlers. Moynan (51*) took charge with the bat and contributions from Tom Beale (27) and Ricky Greiller (26) made for an easy win.

The second elevens of both teams met with Ives rattling along to 188-9, Matt Dack (50) and Steve Cant (45) scoring well. Doddington's reply never took off and their innings finished on a well below par 100 all out.

St Ives III faced table-topping Longstanton and good knocks from Steve Baxter (32) and Neil Ewart (31) saw Ives close on 168-9. Longstanton openers got them off to a scintillating start but Ives stuck at their task and finally dismissed them for 157 to pull off a great win.

An injury to a St Ives IV player caused a one hour delay against Isleham who totalled 176-7. Jack Haycock (22) and Abdul Haq (20) put up good resistance but Ives collapsed to 83 all out.

GODMANCHESTER

POOR application by many players contributed to Godmanchester being dismissed for their lowest-ever EAPL total against Granta on Saturday. Godmanchester captain Paul Swannell enjoyed the luck of winning the toss and had no hesitation in asking Granta to bat on a damp wicket. Simon Rose (4-45) and James Cowan (4-49) contributed to Granta's poor start as they fell away to 27-4 but the visitors knuckled down to the task and reached a respectable 196 all out. The home side had seen top order batsman Matt Pateman taken to hospital with a hand injury sustained while fielding, and neither he nor Swannell (35) could be blamed for the demise of Godmanchester for just 71 all out. Wayne Bradley (14) threatened to stick around but five batsmen failed to put a run on the board as Huntingdonshire County youngster Jon Carpenter (3-10) and Duncan Howells (5-14) ripped out the home batsmen.

COUNTY MATCHES

HUNTINGDONSHIRE ran the Middlesex Academy close at St Ives CC on Sunday but lost by five wickets with just five balls remaining.

Batting first, Hunts amassed 219-8 but the injury sustained by captain Paul Swannell while at the crease proved decisive, as Swannell was unable to bowl in the Middlesex reply. David Clarke (87) was the mainstay of the Huntingdon innings and Swannell (45) took the home total to one of respectability from their 50 overs.

Middlesex set about their reply in positive fashion and Josh Davey (41) and Dan Anthony (29) put on 79 for the first wicket. James Sykes put in an economical spell of bowling for the hosts but Adam Rossington (64*) made sure of a win as the visitors reached 220-5.

The over-50 team took a good win from their encounter with Leicestershire at Lutterworth. Leicestershire batted first but were blown away by Buckden's Richie Gale (2-20) who gave nothing away in his nine overs. Fred Khan (2-29) made sure the home side posted a low score of 163 all out. Hunts wasted little time in racing to the target with Khan (31*) seeing them home.

Hunts U25s reached 227-7 from 50 overs with Ali Crothers (81*) and Simon Donald (41) bossing the bowlers. Lincs replied with an opening stand of 88 and good scores from all their batsmen saw them to 228-7 with two overs to spare.