Cricket:
Positive signs for Rugby

RUGBY picked up their first positive result of the Warwickshire League Premier Division season when securing a winning draw at home against Bedworth on Saturday.

Captain Matt Ewer lost the toss for the third game in a row and as a result Rugby were asked to bat on a hard surface that offered a tinge of green.

Before the game Rugby's batsmen had been focussing on the importance of valuing their wicket and it seem became evident as George Mackenzie and Owen Edwards built a partnership of 105.

Edwards (67) in particular alternated watchful defence with some blistering attacking strokes but after he fell to a remarkable catch on the deep cover boundary, Mackenzie was joined by Charlie Robards who quickly found his rhythm and kept the scoreboard moving. At drinks Rugby were extremely well placed at 140-2.

Runs continued at a steady rate but so did wickets as Mackenzie fell for 61, followed by Robards (33) and Lee James for a duck.

Matt Ewer played steadily for 27 and Glyn Tapp made a good looking 13no at the end of the innings to push the final total to 243-9 from 50 overs.

A rain shower hit just before the resumption and reduced the overs available in the game but nevertheless Rugby felt they had an excellent chance of forcing victory with a good start.

Riv Monsell has been steadily bowling himself into form this year and he produced a wicket in his first over, removing Smith for a duck.

Apart from that though, the opening few overs were fairly uneventful and Bedworth progressed to 23-1.

Monsell (3-43) soon livened things up with a stunning over as he found the edge of Ryan Oldham (23) before clean bowling Peacock next ball with a swinging yorker. The hat-trick ball was right on the money but the catch offered was not taken in the slips.

Ewer (1-28) then removed Smart lbw to leave Bedworth rocking at 34-4 before once again the rain returned, reducing Bedworth's innings to 38 overs.

Bedworth skipper Dangarembizi (40) batted well with Jakeman (45) but Raj Chohan (1-20) and Owen Edwards (3-25) kept the game alive with late wickets.

With overs running out, Bedworth were able to block out on 148-8 to avoid defeat.

The 17-point point haul from the game has pushed Rugby up to mid-table ahead of Saturday's trip to Four Oaks Saints.

THE 2nds had the better of a draw against Sheldon Marlborough in another rain affected contest.

Captain Keith Bradbury was delighted to be asked to bowl first on a wicket with several damp patches though Sheldon's openers played well against the opening attack of Neal McGrath and Matt Hinks.

The first wicket fell with the score on 35 when Chris Evans held on to set things in motion for Rugby as McGrath (2-36) and Hinks (3-39) ran through the top order to make it 78-5 after 25 overs. Alex Smith's fantastic low diving catch in the covers was a particular highlight.

Bradbury picked up a wicket with a long hop as Alan Milsom took the catch but some good late hitting from the tail, 40 coming from the final five overs, saw them close on 171-8.

Evans and Milsom started well as Rugby replied with the latter especially impressive with some savage square cuts and flicks through mid-wicket.

Evans fell lbw to one that did not bounce for 16, but Milsom carried on regardless, making a delightful 49 before being undone by the wicket.

A rain break followed with Rugby sitting on 69-3 from 14 overs and a middle order collapse was to follow on the resumption.

Henry Parker’s fluent 21 was the only score in double figures as Sheldon's Adam Thomas bowled good lines to take 5-21 as Rugby closed on 112-8. However, that was enough to secure a winning draw which meant Rugby picked up 13 points for their efforts.

THERE was also a winning draw for the 3rds against Willow.

Rugby made 160-9 after being put in thanks to solid contributions from Billy Burton (42) and Nick Sona (21).

Willow never looked likely to chase down the target after Sachin Sard (4-29) and Andy Attwell (3-13) blasted through the top order, eventually closing on 78-7.

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