The first half of a double header weekend for the 3rds meant a visit to Abbots Bromley. Skipper Mick Clay invited the hosts to bat on green wicket. Rolleston opened up with Warren ‘Wozza’ Cowell and Nige ‘or is it Phil’ Tate. After a very tight start by the bowlers the Bromley batsman were pressured into trying to force the issue and in Cowell’s 4th over, C.Johnson(5) was bowled when playing across the line to a straight ball. Nige then finished his spell with figures of 6-0-19-0, a fine effort for his first attempt at opening the bowling. Cowell continued to trouble the batsman and took another wicket in his 7th over. Steve ‘Big Yak’ Yates took a smart catch at mid-on to remove P.Attwell(6). Later in the same over the dangerous looking H.Bailey(17) was run out after Dave “Butterfingers” Gallagher decided to catch it, then drop it, then catch it again only to drop it again after a failed third attempt at juggling he decided it was simpler to pick the ball up and run the batsman out instead, while the rest of his team mates enjoyed the entertainment. Trevor ‘Fossy Bear’ Foster took over from Tate and made an immediate impact taking three wickets in his first four overs to remove C.Stevenson(6), M.Tracey(5) and Micks long lost brother A.Clay(18). Not to be out done Fabio Cowell took two wickets of his own removing N.Neary(7) LBW and N.Taylor(1) to a steepling catch by Steve Yates before embarking on a mission to avoid buying the “jug”. Foster continued to threaten the Bromley batsman and completed his tremendous spell when he claimed wickets 4 and 5 in his 9th and 10th overs, when he knocked over A.Kirkland(12) and E.Arblaster(0), like a fine cheese, stronger with age and maturing in quality (and no smell…). The Rolleston bowlers had done a fantastic job of restricting Bromley to only 89 runs from 31.2 overs. Superb spells from W.Cowell 14-4-43-4 and T.Foster 9.2-3-22-5 doing the damage, with good contributions from N.Tate 6-0-17-0 and T.Yates 2-0-3-0.
Rolleston opened with Dave Gallagher and Duncan Boddy knowing that 90 to win would be more difficult than it ought to be on a slow track. So it would seem as Gallaghers run of low scores continued when he offered a simple catch to mid on off the second ball, the drying track still stopping on the batsman. Tom Yates and Boddy then took the score cautiously through the next 13 overs as they patiently waited for any loose deliveries. With the score on 53 Yates (14) then fell to Kirkland. Steve Yates then joined Boddy and the pair then set about finishing the job, Boddy continued to pick his shots whilst Yates (20no) decided a firework display was more appropriate, a six off his 2nd ball was soon followed by two fours and another six in the next over. Boddy eventually fell to a catch at gully after a patient but decisive 31 with the score at 82. Nigel Tate came and went when he perished first ball, so it was left to Brett Cobley to finish proceedings in style with a six to bring the scores level before pushing an easy single for the winner in the 20th over. A season of hard endeavour for an ever changing side finally got its reward in a first victory since the opening game of last season, the 22 points stretching the margin of safety from the relegation zone to 24 points.
Abbots Bromley 2pts Rolleston 22pts