SEVEN wickets from Richard Temple helped to secure back-to-back wins for Royston, and their third in four, against Hardwick on Saturday. And it appears the momentum is now gathering for The Crows who now lie fourth in Cambs Senior League Division 2. Roys

SEVEN wickets from Richard Temple helped to secure back-to-back wins for Royston, and their third in four, against Hardwick on Saturday.

And it appears the momentum is now gathering for The Crows who now lie fourth in Cambs Senior League Division 2.

Royston coach Temple told The Crow: "I am a very happy man, it was a good result for us."

Ken Graham looked to push the opening bowlers back early on and his boundaries forced the withdrawal of opening bowler Heathcote after only two overs.

However, Heathcote's replacement Sahan bowled Graham for 16 two overs later.

This brought the form man to the crease in Paul Miller who timed the ball beautifully, highlighted by one effortless straight six.

Miller raced to 46 before he was trapped lbw by Anil.

The Royston tail wagged and Ashley Judge and Matt Gillham contributed useful runs, (14 and 15 respectively), as the hosts reached 165.

The Hardwick reply was a slow one, as Chris Hootton and Richard Temple (12-3-33-7) both averaged less than three an over, but wickets were elusive until the 15th over when Temple took two in two balls.

Three batsmen were dismissed for ducks and Hardwick quickly found themselves 41 for 4 when the opening seam attack was replaced with spin in the shape of Matt Gillham, taking two wickets, and Matt Graham.

Temple, with three wickets already, then ripped through the lower Hardwick order in his last two overs to give Royston a 26-run victory and seven wickets to his name.

He said: "On a personal level, I was obviously pleased, although I've bowled better than that this season without getting as many wickets. It's been a couple of seasons since my last five-for so it was nice to do what I did. But everyone is bowling well at the moment and that's the pleasing thing."

The Crows now face four straight away fixtures, with third-placed March seconds the first up on Saturday.

nRoyston booked their place in the semi-final of the Keatley Cup, dismissing Aspenden Standon & Puckeridge for 101.

Paul Miller then hit seven sixes in an aggrressive 60 as Royston got home by nine wickets.

They were due to face Royston Town at Reed last night (Wednesday) in the first semi-final.

Reed play Buntingford tonight (Thursday) at Therfield Heath in the other tie.