ROYSTON’S final game of the season at home to Ashwell saw a 10th win in a row for the in-form, and already promoted as champions, Crows.

Ashwell won the toss and put Royston in to bat, and were rewarded almost immediately as Rory Harper was dismissed in the first over.

Martin Leary joined Mick Miller in the middle and the pair looked to hang around and build a decent platform from which to accelerate from later on.

At the halfway stage the pair had put on 71 for the second wicket and were looking in good touch with the score on 73-1.

After drinks however, Leary (39) was judged out lbw playing across the line and shortly afterwards, Mick Miller (28) was caught out having slapped a dubiously high full toss straight to the man at mid-wicket.

With the score at 82-3, Sam Montague-Fuller joined Paul Miller at the crease and the pair began to increase the run rate and look to get the Crows up to a competitive score in the remaining 15 overs.

Both appeared to be in imperious form and struck the ball to all parts of the ground, the Ashwell bowlers having no answer to their assault.

Paul Miller (58) passed his half century, his 10th of the season, and Montague-Fuller, who ended on 43 from 41 balls would have surely reached his as well had he had an over more.

Royston ended on 186-3 in their 40 overs, Miller and Montague-Fuller having put on an outstanding partnership of 104 for the fourth wicket.

Ashwell started slowly as Royston openers Hussain and Hall looked to tie them down, however despite the slow run rate, wickets were kept intact as only Hussain managed a breakthrough in the first 15 overs, cleaning up Clarke for 11.

Josh Holmes and Matt Gillham came into the attack to take up the task of finding some wickets and it did not take long for Josh Holmes to strike, the dangerous Moynihan playing onto his stumps having been beaten for pace.

With Moynihan back in the pavilion and with Holmes with his tail up, wickets began to fall thick and fast as Ashwell crumbled.

Gillham bagged two wickets for himself, taking his season tally to an impressive 30 wickets, however Josh Holmes was the star of the day, bowling with pace and aggression to end up with the outstanding figures of 25-5.

Ashwell’s final wicket fell with the score on 118 which gave The Crows a 68 run victory, as well as their tenth straight win.

Delighted Royston vice-captain Martin Leary said: “It’s a top way to round off the season.

“Ten wins in a row is a spectacular record and I think we thoroughly deserve the promotion that we’ve gained as a result.

“Having secured the league title last week, it could have been easy to slip up against Ashwell this week bearing in mind there was nothing at stake in the context of the league.

“However we put in a professional performance and ensured we ended the season on a winning note. We all can’t wait for next season to start.”