A YOUNG and enthusiastic Aspenden Standon and Puckeridge side made the short journey to Barley and came away with a hard-earned draw. The hosts were invited to bat, and were soon into their stride against some wayward early season bowling from Simon Gro

A YOUNG and enthusiastic Aspenden Standon and Puckeridge side made the short journey to Barley and came away with a hard-earned draw.

The hosts were invited to bat, and were soon into their stride against some wayward early season bowling from Simon Groom.

Martin Beedell and Jamie Walters took advantage and shared a century opening stand, before Paul Ward snared Walters with his first ball of the season.

Chris Allen came to the crease and played some expansive shots, while Beedell reached his 50 before being bowled by a perfect off-break from nine-year-old Reece Fitzgerald.

However, Allen took the attack to Aspenden's young bowlers, being particularly severe on a rusty Mark Potter, before miss-hitting a full toss straight up in the air.

ASP stuck to their task well in the latter overs, and Barley reached 260-6.

In reply, Martin Jones and John Yates looked comfortable in putting on 28 for the first wicket, before Jones became the first of Paddy McMahon's four wickets.

The visitors then slumped to 32-5, with Yates being well taken at slip, while Baxter and Rob Devonshire both went for ducks.

Mark Potter stood firm, but Paul Ward soon fell for four at the other end, which brought Mark Pankhurst to the crease.

This duo proceeded to put on 65 for the seventh wicket, with Potter making a big hitting 60 before holing out to mid-on.

Pankhurst continued to defy Barley's attack, and he and skipper Michael Strange saw out the remaining overs, with Pankhurst and Strange finishing on 32 and 21 respectively.