VETERAN Droitwich Spa skipper Martin Woodward made his own piece of history last Sunday by taking the first hat-trick of his career.

Woodward called on all his experience to claim the mesmerising treble during Spa's First XI's last ball two wicket victory against Bridgnorth in a friendly match.

His first wicket came from a rash shot hit straight to a Spa fielder. The second was an LBW and the hat-trick ball was a beautifully flighted, turning delivery which clean bowled the Bridgnorth batsman.

Woodward's achievement came on a day when all Spa bowlers performed admirably, with Chetan Soma and Gary Cartwright both picking up two wickets and Dave Pattison claiming his debut wicket the First XI.

Bridgnorth were 150 all out from 40 overs.

None of the Spa top order batsmen applied themselves and at 99-7 from 32 overs, victory seemed unlikely. However, Richard Tredwell (29 not out) and Adrian Field (21) had other ideas. A fine partnership of 50 almost saw Spa to victory until Field was run out in the last over.

With two needed from the final two balls, Pattison held his nerve and recorded a single. Tredwell placed the last ball into a gap, enabling Pattison to scramble the single required for victory.

On Saturday, rain eventually thwarted the First XI's latest Worcestershire County League game was at Chaddesley Corbett.

Numerous passages of play were achieved in between downpours but in the end the match was abandoned.

Spa bowled and took early wickets before the score moved to 64 in the 20th over.

Soma and Field claimed further wickets, including Chaddesley's overseas player Justin Woods (29), but rain reduced the match to 41 overs. Spa eventually restricted Chaddesley to 162.

With the risk of more rain, Spa's batsmen needed to be positive but a number played poor shots in losing their wickets.

After 19.4 overs Spa were 88-5 and a close finish was in prospect before another downpour forced the game to be abandoned.