A LATE batting collapse saw Royston painfully fall three runs short of their first win of the season against Thriplow. On the back of conceding 417 runs to Foxton last weekend, Royston began with plenty of fight. Thriplow opted to bat, and Royston took t

A LATE batting collapse saw Royston painfully fall three runs short of their first win of the season against Thriplow.

On the back of conceding 417 runs to Foxton last weekend, Royston began with plenty of fight.

Thriplow opted to bat, and Royston took the advantage in the field, with Andrew Craze being bowled by Richard Temple (10.3-0-46-3), and Chris Hootton (8-1-18-3) trapping Cliffe (0) lbw with an in-swinging yorker.

Royston looked reinvigorated as the wickets begun to tumble, and Temple and Hootton both notched three wickets a piece, with Temple removing Thriplow dangerman Paul Staley for an impressive 63.

Royston captain Craig Holson then had to replace injured wicket keeper Paul Miller and the skipper looked more than comfortable in his new role, taking four superb catches.

Thriplow's Paul Viner was then sent packing for a duck by Chris Hooton and the hosts proceeded to cut through the Thriplow middle order with David Sladen taking two more wickets.

And for only the third time this season, Royston bowled out their opponents and limited third-placed Thriplow to a very obtainable 151.

Royston opened their response with Holson and Matt Graham, who both displayed some good shots before Holson chipped out to Thriplow's Viner, and Graham was dismissed lbw to Nigel Morris (6.2-1-21-3).

Viner then took the wicket of Miller (22) before Simon Seabrook (18) and Temple (32) set up camp and put together a steady partnership of 50.

At that point, Royston looked to be in the driving seat and heading for their first win.

However, Seabrook and Temple fell in quick succession to two A Morris (12-2-34-4) deliveries, both going lbw.

Royston's lower order then failed to get going, with their next four batsmen accumulating just 15 runs between them.

Sladen and Hootton made a valiant attempt to secure the winning runs in the final overs, and once again pushed Royston close to the target, but it was not to be as Sladen was stumped in the final over - a move that brought another disappointing afternoon to a close.