AMONG the emerging young talents of Colwall, Mike King, aged 14, shone through in the opening friendly for Colwall Seconds.

After a hesitant start Colwall, batting first, posted an ordinary early season score of 151-6 in the 40 over game against Cheltenham Civil Service.

Having lost their opening three batsmen for 32 after 15 overs, Eddie Hill and Clive Kendall steadied the ship and put on 40 for the fifth wicket.

With good support from Damian Berry and Matthew Berry, Hill's (62) clean striking and determination was enough to leave the visiting team with some work to do on an increasingly chilly afternoon. Cheltenham must have rued the decision not to bring back their excellent opening bowler John Winwood (8-2-13-2).

After a welcome break from the cold wind Cheltenham wasted no time in responding forcefully to Colwall's total of 151. After 15 overs M Meredith and A Pope were ahead of the required rate and had reached 50-1 with relative ease

The game was about to change. Mike King was introduced from the club house end. King bowled imperiously and struck four times in his first five overs effectively turning the game around for Colwall.

King's accurate medium pace, supported by notable catches from P Barnes and D Berry, warmed the heart of the rest of the team all of whom wished they had worn a pair of long johns sported by one of the Colwall players.

At 100-7 with 10 overs remaining the game was always beyond the visitors, however a spirited 16 from A Ford and 12 from M Williams could have turned the game around for the visitors but it was not to be. A late brace of wickets from the returning opening bowler D Berry clinched the match for Colwall with Cheltenham finishing eight runs short on 144 all out.

An outstanding game played in splendid spirit demonstrated the value of this early season friendly.