V for VICTORY or is it VICKERSTAFF?

 

Rowington made the long trek over to Moreton-in-Marsh on a rain-lashed Saturday afternoon and, after waiting to see if the continual rain would subside, decided that they may as well get on with it. They won the toss and elected to bowl.

 

Reliable openers Steve Jay and Scott Rogers soon had the Marshmen tied down and it wasn't long before frustration set in and opener Henshaw missed one that trapped him LBW for a mere 6, off Rogers. Bandeira came in and Jay had an appeal for caught behind turned down, only the batsman and the umpire failing to hear the nick!

Newbould played around a beauty from Rogers and the Marsh men were reeling; after 13 overs they were 32 - 2. Jay retired to the slips and Rogers saved his figures, already eyeing the bowling trophy!

Dale Glover had a brief spell but couldn't budge Bandeira or Hardiman, so on came Paul Vickerstaff to join spin twin (they're of similar size!) Andy Shaw. Shaw kept it tight whilst Vickers had Hardiman (21), caught off his first ball by Alex Smith. Cross got frustrated and Vickerstaff bowled him, Bandiera (33) edged one and walked (this time), again off Vickerstaff, and the Marshers were struggling to get to a ton. Vickerstaff continued and soon had Harvey (7) bowled and an LBW completed his five for!

Leon Clarke replaced Shaw, who had a fine spell with no results. Clarke soon had Millard skying one to Glover as he tried to get past the 120. Clarke then had Luker with his next ball for a goldie, his hat trick ball was nearer the corner flag than the stumps, but Glover came back and finished them off, Jefferson grabbing the edge behind the stumps.

Good bowling by the Rs saw Jay 0 - 19 off 7, Rogers 2 - 13 off 6, Shaw 0 - 16 off 10 tidy overs, Clarke 2 - 16 off 4, Glover 1 - 17 off 4.1, but it was Vickerstaff who took the plaudits with a superb 5 - 26 off ten. Moreton 120 all out.

 

After waiting for the rain to stop so that the Marshmen didn't get as cold and wet as the Rs, the second half started. Rogers and Vickerstaff opened and put on 32 before Rogers yet again walked around a straight one for the second successive week for 19. Vickerstaff was joined by Alex Smith, who played with his usual elegance, moving the score up to 81 as a disheartened keeper appealed for a nice leg side ball which hit Vickerstaff's pads........LBW! An unhappy Vickers (30) made the long walk back with steam coming from his ears. Simon Cross joined his buddy Smith and, although hard to recognise without his hands in his pockets, continued to move the score along. It took ten more overs to see the Rs over the line with Smith 39 no and Cross 20 no, giving the Rs a sackful of points (22).

Moreton bowlers Millard 1 - 11 off ten good overs, Luker 1 - 23, Newbould 0 - 22, Cross 0 - 11, Bandeira and the other Luker both 0 - 16.

 

At long last the Rs have a home game next week against top of the table Ashton-under-Hill.

Steve Jay