HATLEY & Arrington s experienced line-up proved too strong for youthful visiting side Aspenden Standon & Puckeridge on Sunday as they notched up their fourth consecutive win. Batting first, Hatley lost a couple of early wickets before Steve Hooley joined

HATLEY & Arrington's experienced line-up proved too strong for youthful visiting side Aspenden Standon & Puckeridge on Sunday as they notched up their fourth consecutive win.

Batting first, Hatley lost a couple of early wickets before Steve Hooley joined opener John Anderson in a 93-run stand for the third wicket.

The more aggressive Hooley eventually went for 61 but Anderson continued sedately on to 73.

Useful knocks from Phil Hastings (22) and Luke Knibbs (17 not out) kept the run rate going and the home side eventually finished on 245-7 from their 40 overs. Michael Strange was the pick of the ASP bowlers with 2-13 from six overs.

Strange was also top scorer when ASP batted, compiling a steady 61 after coming in at the fall of the first wicket.

He got good support from Simon Lindsay junior who made 40 but the rest of the batsmen struggled to make runs in the face of accurate seam bowling by the home side, particularly from Matt Knibbs and Nick Lenton who finished with identical figures of 1-11 from five overs, and Luke Knibbs who returned 1-10 from four overs.

Then Shaun Davenport produced a slow bowling display of infinite variety to claim 2-27 as ASP finished on 156-7.

After seeing both their Saturday games washed out, Baldock hosted Therfield and Kelshall at Avenue Park on Sunday, and went down by 42 runs.

Therfield batted first and got 186-9 off 40 overs. John King scored a hard hitting 69 as the home side looked to be heading for a huge total but some good bowling restricted them to a competitive total.

Ben Diplock took his first five wicket haul with figures of 5-43 and Alistair Jones took 2-18.

Baldock had a bad start and at 33-3 were in trouble but a good stand of 75 between skipper Rob Cant (44) and 17-year-old Nick Blenkin, who scored an excellent 40, looked like it may bring Baldock close to victory.

However, once they were dismissed the rest of the batsmen perished trying to find the boundary as the run rate soared.

Baldock were eventually all out for 144, and will look to bounce back when they travel to Houghton Town on Sunday.

Ian Skinner showed no signs of rust as he blasted 63 runs in his first game of the season to help Buntingford to victory against Bramfield, on Saturday.

Put into bat, most of the Buntingford bowlers struggled in this 40-over friendly.

Some accurate bowling, particularly against Neal (8-2-13-3) and Baines (5-0-15-9), as it was left to Skinner and a quickfire 27 from George Wurr as the 10-man hosts were dismissed for 116 in the 38th over.

The visitors also found runs hard to come by against Duff (8-3-10-) and Neil Dookeram (8-2-20-1).

Opener Moore held the innings together as he batted for 30 overs to finish with 36.

When he was finally out, the final pair put on 26 before Davies fell on 19, leaving Bramfield 10 runs short with five balls remaining.

Special mention should be given to Buntingford colt Lee Nolan who, as well as taking a fine catch, took 2-6 in a four over spell that included two maidens.