Sporting Club’s accomplished opener Steve Carlyon hit the highest total of the season, with 113 against Romerils, who slid to a 167-run defeat at the FB Fields.It was the second century of the season following Nigel Crocker’s Senior Cup 110 for Romeril’s last month.
With solid help from Matt Hague (73 runs) and Trevor Rousseau (51 runs) Carlyon pushed the champions to a 279 total.Romerils – tipped in some quarters to again upset the champions – were soon in trouble with their openers going cheaply and they struggled to 122.St Ouen won the closest match of the day – edging out Caesareans by just three runs.
On a track favouring the bowlers, St Ouen were put in by opposing captain Meeku Patidar and struggled to such an extend that extras was the top scorer (19), followed by Rob Tewkesbury (17), Paul Le Bihan and Gary Kynman (both 14).
But despite the efforts of Elanco (three for 10) these were to prove invaluable runs.The foundations for an unlikely victory were laid when Karl Moyse returned openers Bertram and Kotidia and Dave Gorman, to the pavilion with only five runs on the board.
Moyse finished with the excellent figures of four for 20.Wickets continued to fall but captain Patidar took up the challenge and hit 28 before being removed by Mark Musselwhite.
At this point only 29 runs were required from the remaining 20 overs.
Sufficient runs never materialised though and when Dave Morfee removed the off-stump of Danny Bower (16 runs) St Ouen could celebrate getting their season off to a winning start.Old Victorians’ opening batsmen paved the way for a comfortable victory over the Old Codgers at Grainville, with No 1 Peter Gough and No 3 Ward Jenner getting half centuries (58 and 68 respectively).
Throw in Chris Jones’ 34 and Bobby Minty’s 36 and the Old Codgers had their work cut out to chase the 217 total.Only Dave Buxton got near those scores in reply, the Old Codgers opener hitting 31 before being trapped lbw by Chris Searson.
Searson finished with two for 4 runs, Andrew Brown two for 3 runs and Jon Giles three for 14.
