BASSINGBOURN Cricket Club hosted their third annual seven-a-side competition at The Recreation ground on Sunday. The teams were as in previous years, Bassingbourn A and B, Cokenach and Royston Teachers. Proceedings started at 10.30am with a round robin co

BASSINGBOURN Cricket Club hosted their third annual seven-a-side competition at The Recreation ground on Sunday.

The teams were as in previous years, Bassingbourn A and B, Cokenach and Royston Teachers.

Proceedings started at 10.30am with a round robin competition, each game consisting of two eight-over innings, there were some close finishes with plenty of "20/20" music being played , this adding to the excellent atmosphere and enjoyment of the day.

Both Bassingbourn teams were eliminated after this which meant that the teams reaching the 10 over final were Cokenach who were defending their title for the second time and Royston Teachers who had not previously reached a final.

Cokenach won the toss and elected to bat putting on an impressive 126 with Matt Stevens getting the top score of the day (57).

Royston teachers then came out to bat but were always behind the run rate having lost two wickets with only four runs on the board, they were finally bowled out for 51 to give Cokenach their third straight win in the competition.

n Reed III returned from higher-division Gaddison Row with a six run loss after a tight friendly game.

Batting first the home team set about the early Reed attack realising 65 for the loss of the first wicket - a fine catch by Rob Willoughby off Neil Haslam's bowling (1-30).

However the introduction of Jason Pallet's slow bowling immediately caused problems and with Michael Robertson's (1-39) fiery spell in support the home team found it more difficult to progress.

A fine catch by Fergus Martin at long off set Pallett on his way, followed by another good low catch by Rob Peacock, a stumping by Steve Lovegrove and a superb turning delivery to bowl the last of his victims left Jason Pallett with figures of 4-1-24-4.

A well judged catch on the third attempt by David Hill off Marcus Baker (1-32) saw the home side set a challenging 223-7. Reed needed to chase in a positive manner and Fergus Martin (16) began well before being bowled in the second over.

Peter Baker and Rob Willoughby (32) completed a sound 82 run partnership before the latter was caught.

To the wicket came a very positive Michael Robertson who, although dropped fourth ball at long on, played a flawless innings from then on putting on 55 in a 72 run stand with the ever present Baker.

Robertson was eventually bowled and was quickly followed by Peter Baker also bowled for a superb 79 - setting Reed up for the chance of a win.

A succession of quick wickets followed with the run outs of Marcus Baker (5) and a very unfortunate Tom Greaves before Steve Lovegrove (22 not out) and Jason Pallett (5 not out) attempted to steer Reed to victory, unfortunately only to fall six runs short.

n Reed successfully booked their place in the Keatley Cup Final for the fourth year in succession after a comfortable nine wicket victory over Ashwell last Thursday.

The holders won the toss and put the opposition in to bat. Paceman Andy Young (3-14) made early inroads, dismissing the Ashwell openers and Peter Tidey (1-14) also picked up a wicket in a typically reliable spell.

Although Kemp (14) threatened to make a decent score, Ashwell were in big trouble when Heslam took a one-handed diving catch off the bowling of Young to reduce the score to 32-4.

The innings ground to a halt with the score finishing on 60-8 after the 16 six-ball overs with Jason Archer (3-7) and Karl Ward (2-10) picking up the late-order wickets.

Despite losing Baz Curtis with the score on 10, Reed never looked in trouble and the returning Phil Frenay (32 not out) and Simon Jackson (11 not out) saw them home with plenty of overs to spare.