Opposition: Rode

Team: Twist, Richards A, Smith, Bush, Kendall, Right, Underdown, Owen, Hannell (Skip), Sharkey, Norris

Man of the Match: Norris

Kit boy: Twist

Tea boy: Craig Underdown. A good solid effort on teas making up for last weeks debacle. Our critic particularly enjoyed the shortbread but was disappointed by the over use of the ginger cake and the overall poor presentation.

Result: Limpley Stoke won by 9 wickets

A thumping win for the boys in white. After losing the corresponding fixture last year by 108 runs Limpley Stoke turned it around to win by nine wickets to record their first victory over their bitter local rivals. General consensus amongst the supporters for the enormous improvement was put down to a notable absentee and his cheesy moments.

After losing the toss Limpley Stoke were asked to field first and as we have come to expect Kendall and Norris both bowled with accuracy and aggression. Both completed their eight overs conceding less than forty runs between them and accounting for seven of the wickets. Tyrie running in like a demonic leaping June Whitfield also bowled consistently well and struck twice in one over to rip the heart out of the Rode middle order. Owen bowled like a right lard arse. After 36 overs Rode were skittled out for a timid 124.

Richards and Twist opened the innings and as we have come to so often expect got the innings off to a solid start making 50 before Twist unluckily nicked one down the leg side and into the wicket keepers gloves.

Richards at the other end was enjoying another glorious innings launching into anything short and outside the off stump. Rode resorted to appallingly negative fielding by having no less than three gulleys and a deep backward point for protection. This did not stop the runs coming. Richards sensing a challenge continued to pick the gaps with aplomb and raced to his second fifty not out in the space of seven days.

At the other end Tim Smith started cautiously but after getting his eye in began to play like a demigod, settling the match with a fifty of flawless technique and composure. Smith is without doubt the finest number three batsman the club has seen in a long time and must rank as one of the shrewdest signings made by Hannell and Tyrie since Alex Ferguson bought Cantona off Leeds and the smell of trophies and sardines began to waft across Old Trafford.

So Limpley Stoke record their second win on the bounce and with St.Stephens looming next on the horizon everyone who sails on the good ship Hannell must be looking forward to a golden summer.