Leaving aside the games covered elsewhere in other reviews in the blog, the other Stafford Trophy, Hamer Cup and league games proved to be something of a mixed bag for the 1stXI.

The 2nd Stafford Trophy game at Daisy Hill saw a controversial defeat with the game turning on the decision to give David out obstructing the field which stunned everyone at the ground just as he and Nick looked like bringing their side home. Daisy had made 217-8 with some of our fielding & bowling lacklustre to say the least despite Dave & Tom taking 3 each. Dan V with 32 and Mark 29 laid a decent platform but apart from Nick's 63 and Dave 24 we struggled to 188 in reply. Criminally we left 10 overs unused.

The following day we again left 10 overs unused in a vain pursuit of FSC's 226 in the Hamer Cup with only Hasnain's 35 and 26 from Trowy providing any threat to the home side. The bowlers had done well to drag us back into the game when a massive score loomed with Dave and Sheeny taking 3 each. Sadly the game will be remembered for one unsavoury incident that marred the day rather than the cricket. 

We finally got off the mark in the last Stafford game with a first win on Chew Moor by an impressive 136 runs over Golborne. Sheeny proved almost unplayable in a brilliant spell of 7/21 with Dave nipping out the other 3 in a total of just 63. Our innings of 209 had seen the pro hit 63 backed up by Nick with 32 and Matt T 27.

The first league game of the season at Bradshaw saw a dreadful display when a couple of hours watching the rain fall obviously affected our attitude to the game with virtually nobody "switched on" when the call came to play, and the home side enjoyed a stroll in the park.

By contrast the following week at home to Heaton it was a much improved display securing a first league win by 23 runs over the visitors. For once we used up our overs and in doing so made a useful 186-8 with Dan V hitting 59 and both Dave & Pete Flanagan in the 30's. Heaton looked well out of it before Hamilton and Garner threatened to repeat last year's heroics only to fall 16 short after an unbeaten stand of 76. 

So a busy start to the season saw the lads play 12 games in all competitions in 33 days. 5 wins and 7 defeats maybe doesn't reflect the ability in the squad but with a hectic schedule it was a pretty good start all in all.