On a windy and cold afternoon Anton and his band of merry men pillaged 27 points from Melbourne Town. King Richard of Bryan opened the batting with Thomas of Yates and after a slow start they had put on a reasonable score before Thomas was felled by an arrow. Trier Ian of Wakefield with his baton of flashing wood was next to the attack and left after being slain early. Alex in Brown sloped to the centre of the battle flashing his blade to see off just a few balls of fire before leaving the scene with just one success. Jonathon from the Hall strode forward with purpose but was struck a mighty blow to his left knee that sent him to the ground with the girlish screams of a dying man. Rolleston's saviours were moving forward Richard of Bryan had shook his sword towards his admiring men has he struck his 50th victim and sweet Nigel Tate of Lyle rode gallantly forward whipping 24 victims aside. Gaps were opened up for Goode Nicholas of Stretton who chopped out 7 others before perishing in his crease. Robin of Station Road, a right Monkey, then felt it was the leaders turn to show the men the way. He did, he walked in and walked back out of the battle leaving nothing but gas at the scene. Sir Louis of Burrows, Shakey Jake Edwards and Master Warren of Cowell all played supporting roles as the Rolleston Green Army amassed 176 hits.

Armed with 276 missiles the men gathered round, Dan the Wild man had been brought to the front line to cover the injured Jonathon who was back at the Hall. Shakey Jake and Master Warren were using the elements to deceive the attackers from Melbourne and it was not long before a combination of Shakey Jake and the out-stretched arm of Thomas of Yates had sent the first victim packing. The onslaught continued but soon a second victim departed the scene thanks to the tight and effected weaponry of the two leading charges. Once again Robin Station Road decided he wanted a piece of the action unfortunately his missiles were so misguided that Jonathon of Hall was having to search his stately grounds for the missing ammunition. Fortunately he quickly became tired and slipped back into his own little world for a massage with Thomas of Yates taking on the role of lead side-winder missile launcher. At the other battle front Sir Louis was about to enter the fray. A deceptive faster missile seeing the next victim disappears from the battle field. Thomas of Yates was soon in his stride and he scythe down towny after towny. Seeing rabbits entering the scene, Robin of Station Road quickly rode back into battle and blew up the castle of a soldier who appeared to have forgotten his sword. The last two townies were still standing and began to taunt sweet Nigel and Brown Alex with high bombs over at cow corner. Enter the stately Thomas of Yates who had managed to send Robin of Station Road to the place he belongs as far away from the action as possible. Alas, as in every good story, the hero of the day Thomas of Yates was willing to leave the glory to his leader Robin, the leader of team green who ran five yards forward to take a simple catch that cut down the townies. Green Army, Green Army.

ROLLESTON 2NDS closed their otherwise disappointing season with a couple of good performances.

On Saturday, they dominated a drawn match against Melbourne Town despite posting a modest 168-8.

Richard Bryan (45) and Richard Wyatt (48no) provided the runs but Mick Meakin (5-48) put his side in a seemingly strong position at tea.

Anton Williams (4-37) and David Cooke (3-25) controlled things after the break and Melbourne were restricted to 113-7.

The men from The Willows went one better on Sunday with victory over Swarkestone 2nds.

Cooke (3-47) and Tom Yates (3- 54) helped reduce the home side to 134-7 but the Swarkestone tail wagged effectively and they reached 218 all out.

Rolleston stuttered to 85-4 in response but a fifth-wicket stand of 84 between Wyatt (71) and Andy Cooper (36) eventually helped the visitors to a two-wicket win with seven balls to spare.

A battling performance against promotion-chasing Aston all-but ensured the second team’s survival in division 5, with only 2 points being required from the last double-header of the season.
Winning the toss Aston, somewhat surprisingly, opted to bat on a hard bouncy track that offered some hope to bowlers as well as coming on the bat nicely for the batsmen. Mark Bellm and Andrew Cooper bowled excellent spells early on and, with the aid of first change, Dave Cooke (3-35), the scoring rate was kept down to only three per over in the first 20 overs. The bowlers suffered some ill-luck as many aerial shots were played out of the reach of fielders. Regular wickets left Aston in some trouble at 90-5 but the sixth wicket pair dug in and, with S Janjua finishing on 52 not out, Aston posted a respectable 187, the side being bowled out in the final over. Rolleston’s fielding was somewhat improved from previous weeks on a difficult surface and, for once, the bowlers were aided by some superb catches, particularly from Richard Wyatt and skipper, Anton Williams who took three steepling catches in his bucket-like paws.
Richard Bryan and Mark Chalkley got the visitors off to a nice steady start but the removal of Bryan, who played on for 20, started a regular fall of wickets. A short cameo of 20 from Ian Wakefield boosted the scoring rate and, from them on, it was wickets rather the run-rate which would be the worry. However, Ady Staham dug in, mixing careful defence with some lusty blows including a huge six over backward-square. He was joined in the fight-back by skipper Williams who showed admirable application, waiting for the bad ball before launching the ball to the boundary. The loss of Statham for 36 gave the home side some hope but Williams continued to enjoy himself, completing his maiden league half-century and, with 56 not out, guided Rolleston to 189-7 in the 43rd over.

Having lost the toss and being invited to bat by their hosts, Rolleston very soon collapsed to 10 for 4 in the face of accurate bowling from Winshill’s opening pair of Adams and Jones.

A brief fifth wicket partnership between opener Richie Bryan and Ady Statham was broken when Richie’s stumps were uprooted by the swift Adams.

Wickets continued to tumble as the opening pair bowled unchanged. After just 24 overs the innings was wrapped up with the score on 57.

With very little to defend, and with the Winshill batsman determined to wrap up the game early, four bowlers were tried in an attempt to find a miracle spell. However, this was not to be and Winshill ran out easy winners by eight wickets.

The post-tea inquests identified a number of contributory factors to Rolleston’s dire performance. These included first team call-ups, an unsettled side, a mis-positioned sightscreen, having to bat first and lack of practice.

Whilst these might all have been factors, too many people seem to have forgotten that their primary focus should be to concentrate for as long as possible on the round red thing that is being delivered to them every thirty seconds or so.

After some serious clean up work on the outfiled by somep players in the morning, Rolleston 2nds completed a convinicing victory over bottom side Ashoburne. After losing the toss and invited to bowl at Ashbourne, Rolleston opened up with Mark Bellm, who 3rd ball in took a wicket. It was his opening partner youngster Andy Cooper who impressed the most with some consitant off stump bowling. He picked up very commendable figures of 8-7-6-2. His hard work helped skipper Anton Williams who managed to bowl tight lines and pick up 5-15. Leaving Ashbourne all out for 77.

In reply, widdows junior joined Richard Bryan in a new opening partnership and lay the foundations for victory. Bryan fell victim for 42, but Widdows finished on 16no, with Wyatt 4no to lead Rolleston to victory by 9 wickets.

Rolleston 2nds, with a fine blend of youth and experience, put in a decent performance away at Ockbrook & Borrowash 3rds in the wake of two humiliating defeats and almost snatched victory under the leadership of Richard Wyatt after Anton Williams was called up to the 1st XI at the eleventh hour.

Rolleston lost the toss and were put into bat and were soon in a spot of bother when Adrian Statham clipped a short ball straight to square leg and Tom Yates paddled an attempted hook shot also to square leg. Rolleston were then grateful to patient innings’ from Rich Byran (42) and the ever youthful Keith Widdows (40) with the pair of them punishing the bad balls to the boundary, in particular an emphatic pull shot for six by Widdows. The pull shot was however Widdows downfall in the end, hitting a full toss off young leg spinner Hodge straight down the throat of deep square leg. Sadly Bryan perished only a few overs later, bowled by Hodge. This brought Rolleston’s previously vulnerable middle order in to the game however good positive stroke play by Scott Cobley (37), ably supported by Mark Chalkley (14) and Richard Wyatt (19*) kept the scoreboard ticking over to enable Rolleston to finish their innings on 179-8 with Henry Wilson taking 3-39 for Ockbrook.

Short of a few of their regular bowlers, Rolleston looked to make early in roads into the Ockbrook top order and duly did with both openers edging to Widdows in the slips and Statham behind the stumps off the bowling of Mark Bellm and Alex Showell. Mark Bellm in particular bowled a tight line outside off stump to both the left and right handers and finished with 2 wickets off his 14 overs. Ockbrook were always behind the required run rate until some powerful middle order hitting from Ross Wharton, A. Fowler and Ollie Gough gave them a sniff of victory. Rolleston however kept on picking up wickets at crucial times of the game with tight bowling and good catching. Dave Cooke took an excellent one handed catch at mid wicket (even though he should have been fielding at extra cover!) off the bowling of Showell to remove Fowler and Chalkley clinging onto a catch to remove Wharton. With Ockbrook seven wickets down, Wyatt made an inspired bowling change bringing Cobley on to bowl seam up at the tail. Four balls later the decision paid off as Cobley snaffled a low caught and bowled chance to leave Ockbrook eight wickets down and Rolleston sensing victory. Gough and Hodge continued to block where necessary and score runs where they could to set up a tense finish. However, Dave Cooke, who bowled well all afternoon (4-42), bowled Gough with the last ball of the penultimate over leaving Rolleston six balls to get the final wicket. However, Hodge blocked all that Cobley could throw at him to leave Ockbrook on 168-9 off their 46 overs.

Rolleston gained a winning draw 16 points to 11.

Another bad day at the office for Williams's troops, with few postives to be taken from the game. One of which the captain winning the toss for only the forth time this season. Asking the visitors to bat, the visitors started well with the watson brothers, putting on a 50 partnership. Thats before youngster Alex Showell removed T.Watson who was caught at gully by Alex Brown. Then Captain Williams, set the trap, by getting out S.Watson, with a Long hop which was caught on the boundary by R.Bryan. Showell continued to bowl well picking up a further 2 wickets to finsih with comendable figures of 3-36 off his 10 overs. Mark Bellm then picked up 2 wickets, but it was Williams who picked up the other wickets to finish with figures of 4-58. Alrewas ended up on 201-9.

In reply Rolleston started as they ment to go on, losing wickets consitantly, the first of which was R.Bryan. M.Chalkey batted well untill he was done by the bowling of T.Watson. R.Wyatt, A.Bowering, and S.Cobley followed without troubling the scorers. A.Brown showed some promise, before being caught at 2nd slip for 10. A.Statham was bowled soon after and Alex Showell for a 1st bowl duck. Then that brought Williams to the crease, who with some sensible batting at first, ticked the score along before he opened up to attempt to get the Rolleston score up to 100. But after some lusty blows, he was caught on the boundary, for a 32 leaving D.Cooke. All out for 79.
A another bad day for Rolleston, great improvment is needed ASAP.

After being inserted on a grassy wicket by table-topping Aston, Nigel West and Richard Bryan got off to a fast start, scoring at seven per over in the early stages with pressure being put on the fielders with some quick running between the wickets. However, having survived one run out scare, Bryan pushed is luck once more and was stranded short of the crease for 25.
West continued to punish the bad ball and was joined by Mark Chalkey who looked confident after his good run of scores in the thirds. He then got a leading edge and was comfortably caught for 18. With the score on 123 West was joined by Ian Wakefield and the two upped the tempo, punishing some increasingly wayward bowling. A total of nine bowlers were used but there were no further successes as the third wicket stand amassed an unbroken 167. West passed his hundred, the first second-team ton of the season and finished on 113 not out. Wakefield weighed in with 80 not out as the innings closed on an impressive 290-2.
Mindful of last week’s performance in the field, a tight start was essential and it was provided by a controlled spell of bowling from Mark Bellm and Dave Cooke. Three wickets fell in the early stages and, following the introduction of Andy Cooper, two success in his second over reduced the visitors to 67-5. At that point, victory looked possible but I Iqbal (94) and M Khan (36) first dug in, then started to play some expansive shots and the game began to drift towards a draw. Rolleston’s fielding became increasingly ragged and several catches, of varying degrees of difficulty, were put down. Having secured maximum batting points, Aston lost a couple of wickets in the last over to Nigel West as they reached 215-8.
After a solid performance, Rolleston took 19 points for the winning draw, remaining in 6th in the table.

On a hot summers day, Rolleston were put into bat on a hard wicket, at Rolls Royce. Openers West and Bryan started postively, beofre in the 11th over West departed for 29, only to be followed by Statham for a duck, after he scooped the ball away from his stumps with his hand to be given out handled ball.
This then brought the man of the day in, Ian Wakefield, who batted fluently and postively. After passing his 50 he pulled up with an injury to his foot, but braved the pain to continue. Eventually he needed a runner, but as soon as this happened Wakefield holed out on the boundary going for his centery only to fall 2 runs short on 98.
Some good postive batting at the end from R.Wyatt (25) and youngster Dan Henderson 18no, boosted the Willowers score to 276.
In reply Rolleston got off to a great start with 2 early wickets including a runout, from a direct hit from Dave Cooke. But after that Royce's got going and batted aggresivley, this was not without chancesd which the Willowers failed to take.
The captian Williams returned in the 30th over, and took the bull by its horns by taking a much needed wicket to but Rolleston in contention again. More wickets follwed by Williams, Wyatt and the up and coming youngster Dan Henderson (3-36) swayed the game back into Rolleston's favour. With 7 runs required and only 1 wicket remaining, anything could happened, but the last thing that was expected happened. Off the bowling off steady eddy Wyatt B.Yasin hit a aggresive ondrive off the stumps over the boundary for 6 to put Royce's in pole, a single 3 balls later completed the win for Rolls Royce. A very good effort and fight back from Rolleston, with some good pieces fo cricket being played but a remiander that a promotion assult isnt going to be as easy.

Having lost the toss and being asked to field, Dave Cooke and Louis Burrows got the side off to a good start with accurate bowling and Burrows (2-20) picked up early wickets. For the home side, Park (42) and Kershaw (57) knuckled down and put on 93 for the third wicket, helped by several dropped catches. Adam Roe and Alex Showell both bowled well but it was the slow off-breaks of Tom Yates (2-40) and inswing of Warren Cowell (2-38) which took regular wickets and Wirksworth closed on 179-7.

180 looked a reachable target and both skipper Richard Bryan and Keith Widdows looked comfortable against some accurate opening bowling, particularly by Lowe (2-8 from 9 overs). However both fell for 22 and, at 53-3, Rolleston were wobbling. Steve Yates and Ian Wakefield took time in doubling the score before Yates also went for 22. Wakefield batted on but eventually departed for 55 and, after that, wickets tumbled to Javed (2-14) and Kershaw (3-22), Rolleston crumbling to 154 all out and leaving Wirksworth deserved winners. Both sides were depleted of regular players but the youngsters drafted in by Rolleston performed with credit, especially with the ball.