New skipper Paul Swannell is heartened by Godmanchester’s start to the Tucker Gardner League Division One season.

The defending champions eased to a second successive victory when seeing off fellow locals Waresley by 24 runs last Saturday.

Swannell starred with the bat when hitting 78 off just 84 balls as Godmanchester were dismissed for 179.

Opener Tariq Aziz, who hit a century in an opening day triumph against Histon the previous weekend, was the only other significant contributor to that tally with 40.

But it proved more than enough for them to triumph with Simon Rose taking 4-33 as Waresley limped to 155-8 in reply. Aziz and new overseas recruit Jarryd Phillips also took two wickets apiece.

Swannell said: “I certainly can’t complain about wins in our opening two games and we’ve done it despite having a couple of players missing so far.

“We’d like a few more runs in an ideal world, but we’re playing pretty well and enjoying the new format.

“Tariq has started the season very well and I was probably guilty of giving a hundred away last Saturday against Waresley.

“In an ideal world we could probably do with a few more runs, but a couple of other guys are due a score and I’m sure they’ll convert opportunities in the coming games.

“We’ve bowled well though with Simon in particular, stepping up just when I needed him to. He really took the sting out of Waresley’s challenge.”

Waresley dangerman Jake Allcock, who made 44, was among Rose’s victims. That proved a key wicket as the visitors ended up short of their target.

Alex Watkiss and Chetan Chauhan had earlier bowled well for Waresley with three wickets apiece for the second successive match.

Godmanchester are one of five teams to have started the season with back-to-back wins, but only two of those sides – Eaton Socon and Wisbech - have accumulated maximum points by bowling out both sets of opponents.

Captain Jonny Carpenter was the key performer with ball and bat as Eaton Socon eased to a three-wicket success at Ketton last Saturday.

Carpenter spun his way to 4-9 as Eaton Socon dismissed their hosts for just 102. Medium pacer Ben Gowling also took a handy 3-35.

But surpassing that tally was far from a cakewalk as skipper Carpenter, who remained unbeaten on a patient 53, was in danger of running out of partners.

However, 15 year-old Joe Watling joined him at the crease to see out the job, finishing unbeaten on a valuable 14.

Taylor West continued his terrific start to the season when leading Ramsey to their second triumph in a row.

Former skipper West hit an unbeaten 70 as they eased to a seven-wicket victory against Nassington at Cricketfield Lane.

Ramsey made it past the visitors’ offering of 226-9 with plenty to spare as West was joined by 16 year-old Ollie Stevens (43no) for an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 88 to ensure current campaign Michael Cafferkey’s latest reign continued in winning style.