Rowington made the short journey to stalag 17, otherwise known as Henley and, after the banjo playing had stopped, they elected to bowl on what can only be described as a park lawn of a pitch.

Usual openers, Steve Jay and Scott Rogers, kept the batsmen at bay for ten tidy overs, Jay desperately unlucky not to get Styler in his second over, Cornish Dave Oldfield dropping the easiest of chances. Jay came off after 5 overs for 8 runs, Rogers doing the same for 13 runs. Rowington youngster Dale Glover, making his first team debut, proved that stage fright is for the weak as he produced some nice tight left arm over in-swingers. Oldfield tried to make amends for his drop by feeding the batsmen nice short balls and was soon replaced after 3 overs went for 24. 

Veteran Andy Shaw took the ball and soon had Styler caught superbly by Dale Glover in the deep but the score had moved on to 93, Styler getting 31, the drop with the score on 7 proving costly. Shaw then saw his luck go the same way as Jay's as Eike Gilbert's attempt at winning the trophy for easiest drop of the season saw him spill Ross. Shaw eventually got his man caught by Rogers, but Ross had made 49. Breaker rode his luck and produced 19 before Page caught him, redeeming himself after dropping him on the previous ball!

Eike Gilbert came on to replace Glover and quickly grabbed two wickets, J Perry hit the first two balls for 6, but the third went to reliable Rogers - at least he can catch - and Gilbert bowled Hearndon. Rogers pulled rank on Jay at the end to grab the downhill slope and Ray Perry pushed the score up to 185 with 29 no.

Rowington's luckless opener Jay ended 0 - 31 off 8, Rogers 2 - 32, Glover bowled well for 0 - 15 off 7, Shaw, reliable as ever 2 - 22, Gilbert 2 -18 off 3 and Leon Clarke 0 - 25 off 5.

After managing to grab a few scraps of tea after the chivalry of the Henley team, Rowington openers, Paul Vickerstaff and Scott Rogers, started well only for the unfortunate Vickerstaff to drag a wide one onto his stumps for 4. Alex Smith came in and, with Rogers, pushed the score to 59 before Rogers walked past a straight one from Hearndon for 32. Smith followed 2 runs later for 23 and only 13 more were added before debutant Simon Cross edged behind. Matt Page plundered a quick 19 but went to the aging veteran Shepherd by trying to dance down the track and getting stumped.

Glover and Jay added 25 to move the score to 120 but they needed 7 an over and Glover (16) got stumped trying to get six, Jay (11) was caught on the boundary doing the same thing, Shaw only managed a couple and Oldfield got his customary duck. So the Rs yet again rolled over to a Henley side that took their chances, unlike the Rs. Rowington all out for 123.

R Perry 2 - 5 off 10 overs, Shepherd 4 - 8, Hearndon 2 - 50, J Perry 1 - 22 and J Hearndon 1 - 18 the wicket takers.

Rowington need to improve on fielding if they are to have any chance of a better finish this year and, as the banjo players started up again, they trudged off back to paradise and look forward to Moreton-in-Marsh next week.

 

Steve Jay