FALLING just short, a young Royston seconds side lost by 26 runs on Saturday to Cambs League Division 4C rivals Elmdon seconds. Royston s failure to take early wickets was to eventually play a big part in their undoing. A partnership of 105 for the sec

FALLING just short, a young Royston seconds side lost by 26 runs on Saturday to Cambs League Division 4C rivals Elmdon seconds.

Royston's failure to take early wickets was to eventually play a big part in their undoing.

A partnership of 105 for the second wicket between Alan Flack (40) and Mark Kimberley (46) turned out to be vital.

After the pair were separated, Royston's bowlers ran through the middle order and the tail, with Naveed Ahmad once again taking five wickets with his nippy in-swingers, while Nick Hootton weighed in with three.

In reply Royston needed a solid start, and got it, thanks to Rory Harper, the club's 15-year-old wicket-keeper-batsman.

The youngster's calm assurance and authority showed once more, however he was to be the victim of the one notable incidence of uneven bounce, lbw to a Vince Badcock off break. His 24 runs were scant reward for his patience and application.

Most of the remainder of Royston's batsmen were guilty of misjudging the conditions or the bowling, though one or two were unlucky.

But Paul Harris, making his first appearance of the season, did not disappoint with the hard-hitting all-rounder smashing six boundaries.

Then Badcock, who had kept wicket for the first 20 overs of the innings, followed up his dismissal of Harper with a hat-trick that ripped the heart out of Royston's lower order and effectively put the match beyond The Crows' reach.

Harris fell on 39, to give Badcock his sixth wicket and end the Royston innings 26 runs short.

n BARLEY seconds remain firmly in the thick of the Cambs League Division 5C action following a 76-run victory over Horseheath.

Skipper Phillip George opened proceedings with the in-form William Heslam, with the pair putting on 21 before young Heslam unluckily played on to a wide delivery for 10.

This brought William's father, John Heslam to the wicket and he played some crisp shots as he and George took the score to 82 before Heslam senior holed out.

Keith Markham hit an attractive 20 before being trapped lbw, while Eddie Collins hit a brisk 44 before falling to the last ball of the innings. This gave Barley a very competitive 181 for 8 from their 40 overs.

William Heslam then picked up 4 for 22 in six overs, while Eric Davis, in a seven-over spell took one wicket for two runs.

Churchman offered some resistance with 24 before retiring with a pulled muscle. The reliable Jack Hawkins chipped in with two wickets for 21 from his six overs as Bicknell made a late rally for Horseheath with a rapid 35, however his dismissal eventually saw Horseheath all out for 125 and Barley home by 76 runs.

nBUNTINGFORD slipped to their second successive defeat, falling short at Farnham on Saturday.

Openers Martin Coote and Ricky Frost struggled to get the ball away, before Richard Pearce (61) and Bob Costen (53 not out) helped Buntingford to188 for 6.

In reply Farnham started in positive fashion, with Buntingford quickly made to rue a number of spilled catches. Miller (54) and Green (79 not out) inflicted the most damage as the hosts went on to claim a comfortable eight wicket win.

In an entertaining game with Farnham seconds, Buntingford seconds slipped to a narrow 13-run defeat.

After registering an imposing 281 for 9, Farnham looked in a good position especially as Buntingford lost three quick wickets in reaching 68.

However, Steve Baker (88) and Mike Townsend (73) set about turning things around and soon had the hosts at 199 for 3.

Baker went with 12 overs remaining and when Townsend was out with Buntingford on 225, they needed 57 from the last nine overs, and fell just short on 268 for 9.

n SETTING the standards in Cambs League Premier Division 2, Foxton claimed their third straight victory with a comprehensive six-wicket win at Weston Colville.

The hosts were soon under pressure with opening batsmen Trevor Westley caught by Sam Sabey for a duck, off Andrew Gray.

Only Arvid Gunderson (22) and Adam Curtis (35) reached double figures for Weston.

And in dismissing the hosts for 93 all out, Gray took four wickets including two clean bowled, with Antonnel Atwell also impressing with his three wickets.

Max Bowen also took three wickets, including danger man Gunderson.

It was a figure that would never trouble Foxton, and Patrick Joseph led the way with his unbeaten 43, that included seven fours. Lawrence Farnum contributed a quick-fire 26, as Foxton reached 94 for 4.

Foxton coach Matt Gray said: "It was another good win and we're on a bit of a roll at the moment.

"They registered a total we always felt capable of getting, and once Patrick reached full swing he didn't really leave much for the rest of the team to do."

On Saturday Foxton entertain midtable Eaton Socon, who saw off Bluntisham by seven wickets.

Foxton seconds lost by eight wickets on Saturday with their score of 139 offering little threat to Cambs Junior Division 2C league leaders Elmdon who totalled 140 for 2 in reply.