CATTISTOCK & SYMENE II 114 (8pts) lost to SHILLINGSTONE 212-9 (21pts) by 97 runs

CATTISTOCK & Symene Seconds suffered a 97-run loss to promotion hopefuls Shillingstone in County Division Three.

Despite a heavy defeat at the hands of the highly-fancied Shills, Reuben Kingston’s exceptionally young team performed with great spirit to give a good account of themselves in the season’s opener at Crepe Farm.

Had it not been for six dropped catches in the opening stages, with centurion Chris Cole (102) amongst those reprieved, the target would surely have been more attainable.

Jack Bartlett bagged an impressive 3-29 and was ably supported by Ethan Robertson’s economical 2-24.

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The catching and fielding improved towards the end with Archie Kershaw and Brad Wilkinson taking two memorable efforts and the hosts duly saw scoreboard reward to reduce the visitors from 179-4 to 212-9, with Ian Paulley’s useful undefeated 28 denying the Foxes full bonus points. 

After tea the hosts never really got to grips with the run chase with a procession of six batters out bowled after struggling to come to terms with the early-season pitch conditions.

The top order slumped to 16-2 before Luke Robertson blasted a trademark 44 with support from Wilkinson.

Ethan Robertson added another 25 but Bartlett (10) was the only other player to notch double figures, John Miles doing the damage with a 5-27 haul.
The Seconds visit Winton on Saturday (1pm).

LYTCHETT 178-9 (20pts) beat CATTISTOCK & SYMENE III 51 (4pts) by 127 runs.

NEWLY-PROMOTED Cattistock & Symene Thirds had a tough afternoon with a 127-run loss at Lytchett in County Division Five.

The Foxes still secured four bonus points by dismissing nine Lytchett batters for a manageable 178 at the high-scoring King’s Park.

New skipper Ollie James handed club debut shirts to brothers Sam and Jake Hart and he rotated his bowlers astutely but Lytchett’s top order all made useful contributions, with Steve Hayman’s 46 underpinning the innings.

Sam Hrat took three wickets in three overs and capped a fine performance with a deflection onto the stumps to execute a pivotal run-out of Paul Hanrahan as Lytchett folded from 158-5 to a total of 178-9.

In reply, Nigel Toohill (2), Lloyd Cleal (6) and Justin Gurd (0) all departed cheaply to leave the visitors reeling on 12-3.

It was left to Phil Hawkins to show all his experience with a patient 19 to be the top scorer and last man out, having defied James Aldridge (3-5) and Jonathan Cole (3-11); Lytchett had to wait until the 34th over to finally wrap up proceedings.

James was delighted with the effort displayed by his young team and saw encouraging signs having given one of the division’s stronger opponents a closer contest than was reflected in the scorebook.

The Thirds host Poole Town Fourths on Saturday (1.30pm).

Elsewhere, Cattistock & Symene's first team was thwarted by the rain, their Premier League match against Blandford cancelled.

Steve Tucker's men visit Sherborne on Saturday (1pm).

Looking ahead to that match, he said: "We are excited to get our season under way this week after a weather-affected start to the summer.

"After staying in the Prem last year, we are hoping to build and use the experience gained to solidify our status in this league.

"We had a couple very competitive games against Sherborne last year, unfortunately coming second best in both.

"That is something we want to correct this season. They are a good team who know how to win on their own ground, but we know what to expect and look forward to the challenge."

Cattistock & Symene: Tucker, Gurd, Lewis, King, Mullins, Nicholas, Bradley, Legg, Robertson, Jones, Good.