RHC LIONS

RHC 3's keep promotion hopes alive at the Arns

The 3's knowing that anything other than a win away to top of the table Clacks 2's would not do headed to the Arns quietly confident they could do a job. On arrival it was clear that Clacks were also well up for the big match in Div 7 that day as they were already in the nets getting their eye in.

News filtered through that Nick was running late due to a late session involving a pint of sambucca and a spot of re-decorating the spare room with that new Technicolor paint. So Adam was promoted to opener as the toss was lost and RHC were inserted. The Hoff and Adam made a solid start with Hoffy in particular playing some superbly times drives through the covers for four. Adam stuck to his task and defended well to Band who must have been frequently asking Adam how his day was going as there appeared to be a lot of dialogue between the two, in fact Adam had plenty of advice offered and duly returned during day. The score had moved nicely along to 52 when Hoffy tamely went after a wide one from Passe and was caught at cover. Will and Adam pressed on until Adam also fell to Passe. This brought Gus to the crease. Will was next to go falling to a great catch by the Clacks captain Malcomson at mid-off. JK and Gus set about rebuilding the innings and did so with a brilliant 50 run partnership made up of superbly places shots into the gaps and running between the wickets. This stand caused the opposition to adopt a ring fielding formation on the boundary, basically happy to concede a run a ball. JK finally departed LBW to Bryant-Nichols with the score on 124, Nick joined Gus in the middle with 15 overs left to press home the advantage which came with more great running and the odd boundary including a great straight lofted drive for 6 by Nick. In the last over Nick was run-out for 21 bringing Fraggle to the crease and Gus painfully close to his ton on 96, it was not to be Gus hit the last ball for a single ending his great knock 97no, and RHC 210 for 5.

Nik Kapoor and Gus took the new ball after tea and it was apparent that Clacks were well up for the run chase with Hutchinson in particular punishing anything short and wide and Passe watchful at the other end. With no breakthrough from the opening bowlers Macca and Fraggle came on first change and the breakthrough finally came in Fraggles 3rd (the 16th over of the innings) clean bowling Hutchinsion for 42, this massive breakthrough was capitalised by Macca who took two next over jagging one back into Smith to bowl him and forcing the edge from Campbell into the gloves of Kay. This slowed the run rate as Clacks looked to re-build, Fraggle finished his spell and Mooro joined Macca. Clacks were looking to increase the run rate when Watkins chipped a 'juicy' one from Mooro to Adam at mid-on. Next to go was Passe miss-cueing the drive and giving Mooro a C&B. This brought Adam's mate Odindal to the crease who was swinging at everything and when he connected it was boundary time. However wickets kept falling at the other end with Taylor caught by Hoffy at cow off Mooro and the home Captain Malcomson trapped LBW by Mooro. This left clacks needing 100 odd off 15 with Odindal and Bryant-Nichols teeing off, something had to give and Gus in his second spell bowled Odindal closely followed by Bryant-Nichols bowled by Hoffy. This effectively ended the game with Clacks needing 60 in 8 overs from the last wicket partnership, which Fraggle ended with the first ball of his second spell C&B. Clacks finishing on 148 ao. A superb win against the top of the table side, job well done.

1 Sean Hoffman ct Campbell b Passe 33
2 Adam Knight b Passe 18
3 Will Blackett ct Malcolmson b Bryant-Nichols 6
4 Gus Hoffman not out 97
5 Jason Kay LBW Bryant-Nichols 14
6 Nick Adams run out 21
7 Fraser West not out 1
8 A Macca did not bat
9 Alan Moore did not bat
10 David Adamson did not bat
11 Nik Kapoor did not bat
190
Extras 5 B 2 LB 10 W 3 NB 20 Total 210 for 5

Bowling o - m - r - w
1 Blair Campbell 9 - 0 - 38 - 0
2 Alistair Band 9 - 3 - 42 - 0
3 Dave Watkins 4 - 0 - 25 - 0
4 Richard Passe 9 - 0 - 41 - 2
5 Nick Bryant-Nichols 9 - 0 - 27 - 2
6 Scott Malcolmson 5 - 0 - 30 - 0

1 Ken Hutchison b West 42
2 Richard Passe C&B Moore 22
3 Dan Smith b Macca 3
4 Blair Campbell ct Kay b Macca 0
5 Dave Watkins ct Knight b Moore 18
6 Rik Odendal b G Hoffman 21
7 Greig Taylor ct S Hoffman b Moore 1
8 Scott Malcolmson LBW Moore 1
9 Nick Bryant-Nichols b S hoffman 18
10 Alistair Band not out 7
11 Graham Fraser C&B West 1
135
Extras 5 B 0 LB 7 W 1 NB 13 Total 148 for 10

Bowling o - m - r - w
1 Nik Kapoor 5 - 0 - 31 - 0
2 Gus Hoffman 9 - 2 - 24 - 1
3 Alistair Macca 9 - 5 - 18 - 2
4 Fraser West 5.1 - 1 - 15 - 2
5 Alan Moore 9 - 1 - 52 - 4
6 Sean Hoffman 2 - 0 - 3 - 1