DESPITE not playing any pre-season fixtures, Ashwell started the new campaign in style with an impressive 43-run victory against Burrough Green in the Cambs Junior Division One. Having been promoted from Junior Division Two, the win gave Ashwell an insig

DESPITE not playing any pre-season fixtures, Ashwell started the new campaign in style with an impressive 43-run victory against Burrough Green in the Cambs Junior Division One.

Having been promoted from Junior Division Two, the win gave Ashwell an insight it what could be another potentially valuable season against a side relegated from the Senior Division.

Having won the toss, Ashwell's openers found the going tough against the accurate Lister, and both Max Rushden and Martyn Deal fell early on as their side struggled to 24 for 2 from the first 10 overs.

Tom Wallace (25) and Richard Young offered a much-needed recovery, and a stand of 94 between Richard Young (57 not out) and Jonathan Merrell (51) pulled Ashwell up to 143 for 4 with six overs remaining.

Mark Stier's six into the pavillion in the final over saw Ashwell close play with a slightly above par 185-4 from their 40 overs - with Lister the pick of Burrough Green's bowlers with 2-21.

In reply, Burrough Green could not cope with Ashwell's seam bowling, with Merrell (2 for 5) removing both opening batsmen, before Martin Talks used his guile to remove the middle order with a spell of 3 for 17 from 10 overs.

Youngster Alex Griffin bowled with excellent control to return figures of 1 for 13 from his eight overs, and Jon Simons turned the ball sharply in his spell of 2-55.

Burrough Green recovered somewhat from 40-6 at one stage to close on 142 for nine wickets, however Ashwell won by 43 runs.

On Sunday Ashwell bowed out of the National Village Cup competition against a strong Eversholt side.

Max Rushden's 21 prevented Ashwell's total of 67 being getting any worse, and despite Alex Griffin's early wicket, Eversholt coasted home at 69-1.

This weekend, Ashwell host Cokenach in the league on Saturday, before travelling to Burrough Green in the Cambridgeshire Cup on Sunday.

n CAMBRIDGE side USS CC were all out for 66 on Saturday as Cokenach ran out comfortable winners.

Skipper James Keel decided to put USS CC into bat, and within minutes it was clear that it was going to be Cokenach's day.

Rychard Field held USS CC to just 11 runs from his first 10 overs, before young spinner Liam Botten undid the Cambridge team further, as Botten claimed a career best 7 for 13.

In reply Cokenach eased to victory and despite losing both openers early on, Clarke (24) and Field (24) soon had the hosts across the finish line.

AFTER winning promotion in each of their first two seasons in the Herts League, Reed thirds began their 2008 campaign with a fantastic victory against St Margaretsbury.

Reed found themselves up against several second team players who appeared experienced and more than capable, with their batsmen Miller, (55), Frost (45), and Reed (66 not out) helping them amass 242 for 5 in the 43 overs declared.

George Greaves had taken 1 for 3 before he was forced out with an injury and Kallum and Alan Ward both took a wicket each. But Reed's best bowler was Marcus Baker with 2 for 24 as he kept a tight line on the off stump.

In response Reed were on 101 for 4 after 26 overs, an having lost three of their most experienced players the rescue mission came courtesy of the youthful partnership of Tom Greaves and Kallum Ward who quickly reached 127 between them.

Ward hit seven fours in reaching a maiden 50, before he was caught but while in tandem the pair had caused no end of problems for the hosts' bowlers.

Tom Greaves demonstrated some superb clean hitting and scored 13 fours in passing his first ever century. The climax of this fascinating match saw Greaves (106 not out) and young George Garrott scoring seven runs from the final over to secure victory for Reed with five wickets and just one delivery remaining.