DOUBLE DISAPPOINTMENT FOR DEPLETED SIDES

Both men's sides suffered poor results at the weekend; after a somewhat freakish week of unavailability, it was a miracle that we could even find 21 players, never mind compete at all.

The 1sts looked to have a good chance against Roe Green, but the loss of the top order in quick time set us right back; with Nick, Ry, Doc and KC all back in the shed inside 10 overs, it was left to stand-in captain Rick and Marshy to rebuild the innings.

Both players were going well, with Rick in particular putting away anything loose, before Marshy got what he thought to be a slightly harsh LBW. The innings then imploded, and it was left to Rick, who ended not out on 56, and Farhan to get us up to a very poor 138.

Having said that, we still ought to have won. The innings started with a wicket first ball for Nick Marsh and then Si thought he had a clear caught behind - not given. Two more wickets fell and there was a 2nd caught behind that everyone aside from the umpire adjudged out. Anyway, that's life! The Roe Green opener was going well, but 5 catches going down in 6 overs didn't exactly help matters. As with Egerton last week, catches win matches and drops cost games - and in this case they really did. Both players to score fifty were dropped several times and that was the end of it; credit to them though, they pounced on anything loose and there was some very nice strokeplay amid the drops!

Down at Woodbank, the 2nds ran into a strong side in prime form. With about 3 of the usual players available, we were forced to field a real rag tag, with Esther touted as 11th man at one point! Even at full strength a side with Gowers, Wilkes, Ball, Collins and co are probably a match for anyone even a division or two higher, and having run through our line up for just 62 (much kudos to Rowdy Yates for batting almost 30 overs despite the carnage) they knocked off the runs in 5.4 overs, Bret smashing 49 not out in about 5 minutes.

Not a great day all round, but there was some consolation in seeing Kieran donning the lucha libre outfit after promising a hundred and then "leaving a straight one" (it wasn't really, it was a decent ball) in the first over!

Images from the 1sts game with Roe Green now available in the GMCL image gallery.