Woodmansterne 2nds entered the game with Croydon MO on Saturday with a much-changed side from that which narrowly defeated Kingstonian the previous week.

With captain Hiren Patel away Ralph Patel took the helm and after winning the toss elected to insert the opposition.

An all new opening attack of Neil Patel and George Simms found the only thing swinging early was Harfields bat as the score quickly moved to 50 without loss.

Simms struck back in the final over of his spell having Harfield well caught on the boundary by Rob Joyce for 30.

As was the case the previous week after the initial breakthrough the Woods bowlers once again dominated.

Matt Joyce having replaced Simms soon had the Croydon Batsmen heading for cover as he claimed 5- 28 supported by excellent catches from Micky Joyce, Dave Clisby and Ross Jacobs.

Simms returned to finish off the innings but his figures of 2-31 did not reflect the quality of his bowling. Croydon MO were bowled out for 130 in the 38th over.

In reply Woods got off the the worst possible start losing an early wicket but a partnership between the ever reliable Micky Joyce 55 and Ronak Patel 31 set the platform for a comfortable win.

Robbie Joyce finished the job with an excellent 21 not out. Woods reached their target for the loss of only four wickets with seven overs to spare.

It was really good to see three Colts making such an impact in league cricket.

Woodmansterne’s 3rd XI travelled to 2nd-placed Staines and Laleham, with a mixed team of regular 3rd XI players, 4th XI players and a couple players finally managing to make their first appearances of the season.

Woodmansterne won the toss and elected field, opening the bowling as ever, with Ted Giles and this week Matt Cleary.

With tidy bowling at the other end Ted Giles was soon into the wickets, taking the first four in quick succession to leave Staines and Laleham on 17-4.

After his maximum of 6 overs per spell Matt Clear was replaced by Jan Lever, making his first appearance of the season. Both Ted and Jan continued to bowl well, with Ted taking two more wickets and Jan one to leave Staines and Laleham on 77-7 and soon to be 94-8, when Ted Giles took his 7th wicket.

It was at this stage that the Staines & Laleham 9, and 10 batsmen, D. Anderson and S. Honey, joined forces to showed their team mates how it should be done.

They batted very well, with a partnership of 85, before S, Honey ( 44) was bowled by Ted Giles.

Ted Giles finally ended the Staines and Laleham innings at 188, when he bowled their last man, leaving D. Anderson not out on 54 and giving Ted Giles an 9 wicket haul, with the impressive figures of 23.5 – 7 -75 -9

After tea Woodmansterne opened their innings with Dave Walker, last seasons 3rd XI leading run maker, in his first appearance of the season and Dave Edwards, promoted from the 4ths.

Unfortunately it was not Dave Edwards’ day and was dismissed in the first over, with the score on 1. Jan Lever then joined Dave walker and the batted well, putting on 45, before Jan (16) was caught behind.

It was now the turn of Tony Phillips to join Dave Walker, who by now was seeing the ball well and looking as though he had been playing all season.

Between them the pushed the Woodmansterne score along until Tony Phillips (29) was stumped and Woodmansterne were 135-3.

Neal Fraser then joined Dave Walker, but at 152, both Neal Fraser (4) and finally Dave Walker (78) were out, with 47 runs still needed.

Woodmansterne lost another 2 wickets, George Bunn (9) and Evan Whyte (0) before James Ingram (17 not out) and Matt Cleary (0 not out) saw woods home with just over 3 overs to spare.

An excellent performance, especially by Dave Walker 78 and MAN OF THE MATCH Ted Giles, with his 9-75.