WITH the recent grey weather sweeping across the country, seasoned sports fans will be aware that the new cricket season must be under way. A handful of games were played across the district at the weekend, marking the start of The Hunts Post s cricket co

WITH the recent grey weather sweeping across the country, seasoned sports fans will be aware that the new cricket season must be under way.

A handful of games were played across the district at the weekend, marking the start of The Hunts Post's cricket coverage for the 2008 season.

Led by award-winning cricket coach Dave Woods (see back page) we will be running a regular round-up of cricket from around the leagues, including a roll of honour for the top batting and bowling performances each week.

And The Hunts Post can announce a new link-up with cricket equipment manufacturer Hunts County Bats, offering cash prizes to cricket clubs and players from across the region every month.

The monthly £25 voucher will go to the person or club judged to have turned in the best performance during the period.

To help us make sure our coverage is the best possible, we are asking each club in Huntingdonshire to nominate one person to e-mail us a brief report of the weekend's cricket by Monday lunchtimes.

We do not need full scorecards, simply the scores and the top run-getters or wicket-takers from your side's match - whether senior, junior or veteran, Tucker League, Hunts League, or any other league, make sure you let us know the score.

Simply e-mail sport@huntspost.co.uk or contact Dave Woods on 01480 411481 by 1pm on a Monday, and remember, there are prizes to be had! Good luck to all Huntingdonshire's cricket sides for the forthcoming season.

Tucker League Two

Eaton Socon [bold] made their first appearance in Tucker League at Peppercorns Lane against Khalsa.

Eaton elected to bowl after winning the toss but some ring-rustiness in the field saw seven catching chances hit the deck.

Khalsa cashed in and raced to 278-9, with Simon Cooper's four wickets the pick of the Eaton bowlers.

Eaton's reply with the bat was resolute and a chanceless 100-run partnership from Jon Carpenter (81no) and Matt Rawling (54) helped Eaton to 186-3 as the St Neots side registered their first points in the league .

In the same division Waresley [bold] visited Kimbolton [bold] and had to accept second best. Batting first, Waresley's innings never really got underway, mainly because of the evergreen Martyn Moore, who returned figures of 3-31 in 16 miserly overs.

Only Danny Swzajbax (34) came to terms with the tight bowling as Waresley closed on 159-8. In reply, Simon Lambert smashed his way to 61 to put Kimbolton in charge but 16-year-old Chris Whitfield almost embarrassed them with 3-17 as they stumbled past the Waresley target with just one wicket to spare, claiming 20 points for Kimbolton to Waresley's 10.

Hunts League Three

Eaton Socon II [bold] took a hammering at Nassington. Batting first, they ran up 169 all out with Ben Reedman (29no) and Ray Dawborn (29) top scoring.

The hosts then smashed the ball to all corners and reached the target of 170 with only two wickets down

Rutland Seven

A close game between Eaton Socon II [bold] and Werrington resulted in an eight-run win for Eaton. The Eaton total of 153 all out was helped by 38 runs from Bob Nicklin. The youngster then took charge and bowled Werrington out for 145, with Shane de Silva claiming 3-30, Nick Staddon 3-31 and Joe Dawborn 2-28.