Rowington entertained Long Itchington in their last warm up game before the new season and both teams fielded strong squads of mainly first team players.

Electing to bat, Captain Scott Rogers carried on where he left off last week and scored freely, aided by a little bit of early season wayward bowling by the Itchers. Alex Smith was first to go on 13 - a good catch off the bowling of new captain, Martin Clarke. Matt Page proved he'd lost none of his talent whilst at Bidford last year and promptly went for 1! 

Steve Griffin trudged sloth-like to the crease and helped Rogers move the score along, the two of them moving the score past the ton, and Rogers then stepped up a gear and hit a straight six to complete his second successive century. Whilst the rest of the team hunted the ball, Rogers had decided he'd had enough and declared on 117 no.

New boy Simon Cross, sporting a remarkable resemblance to the charismatic Steve Jay, came to the crease and showed what he can do, moving the score to 216 before Griffin went on 48. A couple of overs later the final score was 231 - 3 off 40 overs. Rawbone 1 - 42, Clarke 1 - 27 and Perks 1 -16, the wicket takers.

 

Steve Jay opened the bowling and, despite running up the hill, managed a good tight line ("as usual" I hear you say!) and it wasn't long before opener Reardon (11) joined the cue for the showers, after edging to Tom Jefferson behind the stumps. Cornish Dave Oldfield opened the other end and, having not bowled a ball since last season, struggled to find his line and, most of the time, the ball, as it spent a lot of time in the field! He was replaced by young debutant Dale Glover who, despite his young age (15), showed great maturity with some superb tight bowling, a definite first teamer in the making.

Leon Clarke, who replaced Jay after his 8 overs went for a miserable 19, yet again belied his age and quickly had chirpy Jamie Clarke (33) back in the pavilion, caught by Rogers after skying one. Lusall did exactly the same thing but Alex Smith pouched the catch to despatch him and the Itchers were reeling. Could Alex Jack pull off the impossible? Andy Shaw did his best to help their cause but then turned it around and grabbed Perks with a superb catch from safe hands Smith, judging a high one from over his shoulder - Shaw was off the mark! He then had Crosswaite LBW and the total was getting further away. The returning Dale Glover grabbed his first wicket for the first team as Jack went back to the pavilion for a fine 58. Oldfield came back to make a game of it and eventually bought a wicket (Rawbone 21) but with Glover on fire it wasn't a problem and he soon had his second wicket, bowling Wood for 5. A not out 21 from Chapman raised the score to 214 but they ended 17 short and Rowington are yet to lose!

Jay 1 - 19, Oldfield 1 - 74 (seventy four!) Glover 2 - 27, Clarke 2 - 22 and Shaw 2 - 39 the bowlers.

It all starts next week - Henley away........

 

Steve Jay