WARBOYS lost the toss but benefited from a misjudgement by a youthful Eaton Socon II team on Saturday. Electing to bat first, Socon s opening pair of Ryan Brown (17) and George Richards (13) put runs on the board, but the Witches bowlers revelled in the f

WARBOYS lost the toss but benefited from a misjudgement by a youthful Eaton Socon II team on Saturday.

Electing to bat first, Socon's opening pair of Ryan Brown (17) and George Richards (13) put runs on the board, but the Witches bowlers revelled in the friendly conditions.

Richard O'Leary (3-18) sent down eleven accurate overs and, after Richards fell, the next three batsmen all failed to trouble the scorer.

James Trafford bagged a couple of wickets but Peter Johnson (20) and Stephen Brown (17) gave Socon hope with a middle order partnership but Sam Latchford (4-27) skittled the lower order to leave Socon on 91 all out. The Warboys bowlers received excellent support from wicket-keeper Frank Gloster, who recorded three stumpings.

In reply, Warboys' Steve Hill (63*) nearly did the job alone, but received support from Gloster (17*) on the way to 93-1 in less than 15 overs.

Warboys skipper O'Leary said Socon's decision after winning the toss had been key.

"We thought they would invite us to bat, given the state of the wicket, but we were glad to have a bowl at them first. I'm sure they will learn from the match," he said.

After being invited to bat by Warboys II, Hilton recorded 202-8 thanks to Peter Sarkis (84) and a helpful extras total (45). Sam Latchford and Chris Hoy snatched a couple of wickets apiece for Warboys.

Warboys hit the accelerator from the start of the reply and with Dan Wright (106) and Ryan Humphrey (54) opening in style, it was no surprise that Witches took the spoils at 203-2 in just 25 overs.

Huntingdon III racked up 167 all out against Warboys III, with James Crook (52) the pick of the batsmen and Mick Avery taking three wickets. Avery (35) completed a good day's work, but his team fell short at 159.

In the Feast Week match, the Warboys XI could not reach the Derek Staines XI total of 225 all out, closing early on 122-7.

EATON SOCON

RAIN won the day when Eaton Socon entertained Abington but it was ultimately Socon who mopped up the points to register the win.

Abington were invited to bat first on a slow wicket, and got off to a steady start before wickets began to tumble, and they made heavy weather of reaching 131-9.

Glen Daniels (5-48) was master with the ball as he used the conditions to his advantage.

Socon's reply slumped after a solid start, but the middle order upped the tempo and they squeezed in front of the required rate at 100-7 when play was stopped because of a downpour. Socon took the 20 points after run rate calculations gave them a slender lead.

In Rutland Four on Sunday, Socon put in a woeful batting effort at Oundle II as they were dismissed for just 88. Only Matt Childerley (26), Barry Cavilla (18), and Terry Day (17) reached double figures. Oundle knocked off the required runs for the loss of only three wickets.

BRAMPTON

AFTER winning the toss, Brampton put Dean II in to bat, and quickly reaped the rewards. Dean were dismantled by Duncan McGregor (5-25) and Rob Trewin (3-12) for just 58 all out. Despite a modest target, Brampton were made to work for the win and reached 62-5 with McGregor (21*) impressing with the bat.

YELLING

WICKETS fell as fast as the thundery showers at Yelling as the home side crashed to 68 all out against Hardwick. On a slow, green-topped wicket only Rob Smith (24) and extras (10) got to double digits against an accurate attack. Hardwick found life in the middle just as difficult with Steve Tack (5-32) taking a liking to the conditions, but even he failed to halt Hardwick as they reached 70-8 and took the points.

WARESLEY

STRUGGLING Waresley fell to another loss on Saturday, this time at the hands of Granta II.

Batting first, Akeem Dodson (40) and Ross Fensome (30) helped to establish the Waresley total of 144 all out. Granta's Douglas Rice (71*) then frustrated the Waresley bowling attack as Granta sailed away to 145-3.

Waresley II fielded a young side at Ufford Park but Ufford's top order hit the majority of the home side's 176-8. Jim Keys (3-32) was the pick of the attack.

Only Vince Winn (26) got going from Waresley's top order, but Dip Patel (20*) and Ben Haglin (23) gave some late hope, until rain ended the match with the visitors at 116-7. Rain rules gave Ufford the points with Waresley 10 runs short.

ST NEOTS

CHETHAM Shetty had a day to remember when St Neots visited struggling Great Staughton on Sunday. Shetty (112*) and David Goodall (67) were instrumental in helping Saints on their way to 267-4. Luckless Staughton then ran into Shetty (5-8), who was just as inspired with the ball. Shetty bowled seven overs for the loss of just eight runs as Staughton slipped away to 118 all out.

RAMSEY

RAMSEY took a rain-affected win from their match against Nassington in Tucker One. James Markland (44) and Mark Edwards (38) put together a neat innings to take Ramsey to a competitive 181 all out. Nassington were then made to struggle as Michael Kay (5-38) took charge with the ball. With rain threatening, Nassington tried to accelerate the scoring but wickets tumbled and when the rain finally put paid to the day's play Nassington were 59-9 and Rams took the points.

In Rutland Three Long Sutton posted 141 all out, before Ramsey fell apart. Only Matt Slack (22) showed resistance, but Ramsey were all out for 72.

Ramsey II embarrassed Nassington II who scored 157-9 batting first, with Ramsey's Nick Page (5-30) enjoying his afternoon's work. Slack (41*), Malcolm O'Grady and Steve Buddle (both 38) took the points as Ramsey reached 161-3 in just 30 overs.

GODMANCHESTER

Captain Paul Swannell condemned his team's latest EAPL defeat as "pathetic", after a disastrous batting collapse.

Godmanchester reached just 43 all out at Vauxhall Mallards, the team's lowest score since the league began. After being put in to bat, they struggled to handle Kandage Fernando (6-24) or Richard Moores (4-7).

Chasing down the modest total, Mallards were asked some questions by Simon Rose (2-26) but it took them little more than 10 overs to reach their target.

Against Godmanchester II, March Town made a respectable 165-4, with James Sykes grabbing a couple of wickets. Godmanchester's reply never got going as Stuart Mills (7-19) subjected the batsmen to a torrid time. Ben Clement (35) and Paul Berrill (25) dragged a poor Godmanchester reply to 101 all out.

Godmanchester III conceded their Huntingdon league match at Wisbech.

ALCONBURY

ALCONBURY bagged a much-needed win on Saturday when they beat Orton Park by nine wickets.

Park mustered 144 all out after Pete Edwards (5-39) had ripped through the lower order. It became a stroll in the Park as Richard Ewing (56*), Richard Willcock (33*) and Ryan Tyler (38) saw to it that the Peterborough-based team had no chance of escaping with the points.

BLUNTISHAM

HAVING won the toss, NCI chose to bat and competently ran up a score of 194-7, despite Bluntisham skipper Andrew Hunter's (3-31) form with the ball. Howard Mathson (50) and Paul Briggs (61) punished the bowling and Bluntisham squeezed home amid the rain at 196-8 with five balls to spare.

COUNTY MATCH

RAIN interruptions dogged the opening match of Huntingdonshire's second annual tour of the North East.

Despite both sides making declarations, the match between a Northumberland Development XI and Hunts ended in a tight draw.

Northumberland's first innings closed at 227 all out with Hunts' David McCallum (5-55) doing some great work with the ball. Hunts then rattled up 185-7dec from 41 overs with Paul Swannell (56) headlining the batting.

In the second innings, Northumberland posted 160-6 to set Hunts 203 from 35 overs for the win. Franco Marais (77) and Ben Clement (40) led a charge but the game was always destined for a draw as the visitors finished 172-7.

The weather was again significant in Hunts U17's visit to Cambridgeshire for a two-day County Championship match.

Having won the toss, Hunts invited Cambs to bat, allowing Waresley's Chris Whitfield (6-18) to rip into the batting line-up as Cambs were skittled out for just 85 in 34 overs. In reply, Hunts were 30-2 before Alex Martin (33*) and Chris Budd (58*) steadied the ship to take Hunts to 105-2 at close on day one. Without a ball being bowled on day two, Hunts took the win on first innings scores.

COUNTY YOUTH FINALS

THE County U9 Youth Cricket finals at St Ives CC saw Needingworth U9's end Peterborough Town's six-year hold on the trophy.

Needingworth, Peterborough and Godmanchester all claimed two wins but it was Needingworth's day as they lifted the trophy with the best runs-per-wicket ratio.

The win is the culmination of a great season for Needingworth's young cricketers, who have lost just a single game all season.