EASTNOR U15s v

APPERLEY

AFTER a rainy start to their season in the Leadon Vale Youth Cricket League, Eastnor U15s got underway with a home game against Apperley which was won by Eastnor in the 15th over of 20.

For Eastnor, outstanding batsmen were Scott Roberts and Craig Layton, who both retired after scoring over 20 runs and Carl Wildig, who was 16no.

Batting for Apperley, their Worcestershire county player Jake Atkinson retired on 20 runs. As usual with Eastnor youth teams, too many wides were bowled.

CORSE & STAUNTON U15s v

EASTNOR U15s

BATTING first, Corse & Staunton made 124-7 in their 20 overs with J Pugh retiring on 20 runs and W Wellon bowled on 16. Best bowling for James Febery and Sam Yaxley, who both picked up two wickets.

In a very exciting finish Eastnor got the runs in the 19th over and finished on 126-6. Scott Roberts scored a hard hitting 15 but Carl Wildig and Josh Emery, who both retired on 20 or over, won the game for Eastnor.

EASTNOR U13s v DOWN HATHERLEY U13s

ON a perfect spring morning, Eastnor U13s entertained Down Hatherley U13s in a Leadon Vale League fixture.

On a firm wicket Down Hatherley were put into bat and started well, taking six runs from the first over, but tight bowling from Peter Blair (3-9-1) and Martin Goddard (2-8-0) stemmed the flow of runs. Positive fielding and well held catches backed up some fine bowling. James Febrey (3-3-4) and Jamie Onions (2-2-2) shut the door on the Down Hatherley batsmen and the pressure was maintained with fine back up bowling of Craig Fitton (2-8-1), Pete Gatland (2-6-0) and Alex Jupp (2-9-0) which held the opposition to a meagre 223 from their allotted 16 overs. Down Hatherley's best batsman being G Artis (10).

In reply Eastnor started positively with opening pair Sam Peplow (18) and Pete Gatland making the most of the early overs. Eastnor continued to score freely with the bat and when the final pairing of James Febrey (20) and Martin Goddard came to the wicket the game was all but over. Eastnor only lost four wickets and finished with a final score of 271.

Down Hatherley put up a fine display in the field and with good tight bowling from I Galbraith (2-6-0) and S Hanks (2-4-1) were unfortunate to come up against the Eastnor team in such good form.

LEAGUE GAMES FOR COLWALL MAIDENS

COLWALL Girls, known as Colwall Maidens, have for the first time entered in the Herefordshire League cricket against U13s boys.

Colwall have played three games so far this season, the opening game being cancelled due to poor weather against Herefordshire Girls.

The opening Sunday friendly against Malvern College was lost by eight wickets in a 30 over match. Similarly a game against Eastnor left Colwall chasing 164. J Emery 50 and L Watkins 49 and S Beale 36 being the key players, Colwall didn't lose their nerve and held on to draw for some valuable batting points. The removing of Beale's middle stump by Connie Holder being the highlight of the innings.

Last Tuesday's game against Colwall U13s was a much closer affair. Colwall were put in to bat and with steady batting by Dee Lannie, Sophie Legross and Connie Holder managed 80 runs off the 20 overs.

Colwall boys thought it was going to be easy but struggled against an accurate attack and some excellent field catches by Lannie and Moyles, as well as a fine run out.

However K Lister batted well with a 25no supported by S Coffey and eventually Chris Kendal who hit four off the second last ball of the innings.

COLWALL U11s v HANLEY CASTLE and UPTON

COLWALL won their first home game of the season in convincing style by 67 runs.

The young side were keen to put behind them the defeat to Pershore the previous week and were soon on top. In his first over, captain Kit Holden took the first wicket to fall when Rory Jones took a smart catch. Hanley then found scoring difficult against some accurate bowling and keen fielding throughout. There was some smart fielding by Henry Coleman and wickets for Greg Leighton, Tom Dunn and, in the last over, another for Holden.

Replying to a score of 235, Odge Davey for Colwall hit an aggressive 33 to get the innings away to a fine start and with good contributions from Chris Kendall, 16, Joe Crichard, 11 and Leighton, 15, the result was never in doubt. Hanley, however were rewarded for their efforts with three fine catches before Dunn steered Colwall to a score of 302, with a good final knock of 19, including four 4s.