Ian Crossley won the toss on a sunny but cool day and elected to bowl, after last years performance at the same ground and a few players opting for this choice the skip followed suit. Kirby and Smith opened the bowling and the scoring started slowly before Lark started to find his feet. Huncote had their chances though as first Trusswell was dropped at slip by Driver then Lark flashed and Driver managed to parry the ball above his head down to Smith at fine leg. In the 17th over after consecutive fours Kirby finally got Lark out bowled. The talented Blockley then entered the field and looked as classy as ever as he stroked and nudged his way along. Trusswell was then handed another life as Sommer dropped him at mid wicket off Smith before Smith finally got his man caught at mid off.

Knibbs and Sommer replaced the openers and Sommer was next to strike as Wintersgrill chipped straight to Smith at midwicket for 11. Dann joined Blockley and the run rate started to pick up, Driver replaced Sommer and finally had Dann caught again by Smith for 13. This was looking like becoming a big score with Blockley looking more dangerous, the two opening bowlers were brought back on and soon got in the wickets as Kirby bowled N Gurney before Smith ran out Tingle. With wickets falling Blockley decided the time was right to attack as he launched an assault on Smith hitting consecutive sixes before trying to do the same to Kirby and being bowled for 66. Kirby picked up one more bowled before Smith blew away the rest of the tail in two deliveries as he ended with 3 for 46.

Huncote needing 170 to win were confident that their long batting line up would see them home. Crossley and Hubbard opened and found runs hard to come by particularly off Underwood. Crossley was just getting into his stride on 17 when a delivery from Underwood pitched and shot along the floor catching Crossley in the ankle and out adjudged LBW. P Kirby joined Hubbard and started picking off the runs but at a slow rate. The two continued to build the platform for later and at drinks had reached 51, it was time to push on and Hubbard obliged. Hubbard in good form this year started advancing down the pitch and hitting fours, then he stayed in his crease and flicked a leg side delivery for 6 over square leg. Kirby was next to fall for 20 LBW to Wintersgrill, Huncote now needed 84 from 17 overs with 8 wickets in hand.

This was the time for the big middle order hitters to produce but today was not the day as Spencer (3), Schutz (4), Brewin (8) and T Kirby (1) all fell leaving Huncote 111 for 6. Then with Knibbs and Hubbard at the crease and still a chance disaster struck, Knibbs hit over mid off and pushed off running the first two hard, trying for a third Knibbs made it but unfortunately Hubbard was short and run out for 49. Huncote 119 for 7, again another mini collapse and both Knibbs (5) and Sommer (0) fell without progressing the score. Huncote 119 for 9 with Driver and Smith at the crease and 8 overs to play. At first things looked optimistic for Huncote as both players defended well while still scoring runs, one glorious drive by Smith went for 4 and Huncote progressed to 133 for 9 with 2 overs remaining. Underwood though did the trick for Broughton capping a fine bowling display as he bowled Smith finishing with 6 for 44.

A game where Huncote should probably have won and certainly not lost turned into a poor performance, things must improve for next week as high flying Hinckley travel to the Spearing Waite bowl with Huncote looking to avenge this weeks result.

MOM Frank Hubbard, kept well and the only batsman to score anything of note.

Man of the Match- Frank Hubbard

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