IT HAS been a long time coming, but Royston finally ended their losing streak on Saturday, dismissing 10-man City of Ely for just 21. After a tricky start to their new season in the Cambs Senior League Division Two, The Crows responded with a much-needed

IT HAS been a long time coming, but Royston finally ended their losing streak on Saturday, dismissing 10-man City of Ely for just 21.

After a tricky start to their new season in the Cambs Senior League Division Two, The Crows responded with a much-needed victory - their first since last July.

Coach Richard Temple said: "It was hard to believe really. Everything just went our way.

"I think they were probably a bit under-prepared, having arrived late, and when they went in to bat, we simply took our chances. We caught them on the hop.

"And it was a really important win for us as it takes us out of the relegation zone. It was all the more pleasing considering that we'd had about eight players unavailable and were short on both the batting and bowling front."

It was one of the quickest games the experienced Temple has ever been part of.

He said: "It was a bit of a freak result, and certainly over very quickly, by 3.05pm in fact.

"I think the lowest score I've been involved in was when a Royston side were all bowled out for 40 or so."

Fielding first, Royston had immediate success, with Alan Hootton clean bowling Wells.

Then Temple trapped Vincent lbw for a duck before Hootton snatched another wicket as Ely reeled at 13 for 3.

Another Ely lbw followed for 58-year-oldHootton, before Paul Miller ran out Felton with a 40-yard direct hit with Ely on 19 for 5.

The guile and swing of Hootton and the pace and hostility of Temple proved too much for the visiting order, and having taken 19 wickets in three games, the pair ripped through the Ely tail with uncompromising ease.

The innings was finally wrapped in the 14th over, with the visitors all out for a paltry 21.

Royston's father and son opening pair of Ken and Matthew Graham then had no problems in seeing The Crows home with a comfortable display, and securing a 10 wicket victory.

Temple added: "They're not a bad team - they just had a really bad day.

"But we still had to perform, because there have been times where teams have been three or four wickets down for very few runs, and still gone on to win.

"But once they were six wickets down with only 15 on the board, we were pretty confident that we wouldn't let things slip.

"Ironically, many of Saturday's team were involved in last season's heavy defeat to Foxton, where they scored a record 417 for 3 - so it was nice for all those players to be involved in such a convincing performance."

The Crows will be hoping to build on the result when they travel to league leaders Balsham, who beat Hardwick & Caldecote by seven wickets, on Saturday.

Temple said: "Hopefully it will give us some confidence.

"On paper, we should have our strongest side out.

" We've got a few players coming in, including the returning Chris Hootton, and new signings Chris Milton and Ash Coveney, who will help to strengthen all departments.