THERE was despair for Royston on Saturday as they suffered a second successive relegation. Having gone down from the Tucker Gardener League Division One last season, they now face a season in the Cambridgshire League, where they will face neighbouring sid

THERE was despair for Royston on Saturday as they suffered a second successive relegation.

Having gone down from the Tucker Gardener League Division One last season, they now face a season in the Cambridgshire League, where they will face neighbouring sides Foxton, Thriplow, Hardwick, and Barrington.

Going into the game, Royston needed to ensure that they won or at least picked up no worse than three bonus points less than relegation rivals Burghley Park.

Royston bowled first and after 10 overs things were pretty even, with Waresley on 35-1, losing opener Asque who was bowled by Temple for 13.

Without captain Adam Newman, as well all-rounder Will Graham and opening bowler Chris Hootton, Royston's second string bowlers were unable to tie down the Waresley batsmen and, despite a flurry of late wickets, Waresley were able to declare at 238-7 off 42 overs.

With 54 overs to chase 239, Royston were given every possible chance to chase victory, but they could not have made a worse start with Will Hall being run out without facing a ball and Mat Graham bowled very next ball.

This left Royston on 0-2 after just three balls.

Craig Holson consolidated the Royston innings with partnerships with Simon Seabrook and Richard Temple, but once he fell for 63 the Royston innings collapsed from 114-4 to 142 all out, with Temple stranded for partners on 36 not out.

Having picked up seven bonus points Royston were still confident of avoiding relegation, but once the news was received that Burghley Park had pulled off a nine-wicket win at Castor, Royston's relegation was confirmed.

A despondent team manager Richard Temple, who led the side in Newman's absence, said "It was a typical Royston performance to be honest.

"We were short on players, with four of our first five batsmen away and we had three players playing for the first team for the first time.

We dropped catches, gave away silly runs and played rash shots to get out.

"Seven ducks in our innings tells its own story really.

"At the half way stage I was still confident that we could still get to at least 180 or 200 and get to 10 bonus points, which we thought might well have been enough.

"As it turned out, it was never going to be enough anyway.