Early form rediscovered (From Gazette Series)

Early form rediscovered

Glos/Wilts Division 2

Dumbleton v Rockhampton

Rockhampton rediscovered their early season form at the picturesque Dumbleton ground with a convincing 69 run win.

It looks likely, however, that it will be too much to ask for a repeat of last season's incredibly late promotion charge.

With Gloucester City, Winget and Biddestone almost assured of the top two spots, Rockhampton will be hoping to finish the season strongly to come out on top in the battle for third place.

After some deliberation Jeremy White elected to bat, but the new ball spell from Englebrecht (13-0-54-3) and Barfoot (12-0-51-3) reduced the visitors to 40-3, Will Tyler going for 24.

Skipper White, down at number five following a poor run of form, joined Matt Tyler at the wicket, and after seeing off the opening pair Dumbleton's change bowlers of McHardie-Jones (10-0-48-1) and Gibson (10-0-51-0) struggled to bowl with the same containment. Tyler and White pierced the infield with regularity, and as the hosts went on the defensive they were able to milk the attack in comfortable fashion.

After repairing the early damage White was trapped in front by off-spinner McHardie-Jones for 56, Mark Beale was bowled by the returning Englebrecht for 10, before Matt Tyler (74) holed out at long-off in the chase for late runs. The tail also made a valuable contribution with Jack Spence (14), Ben Johnson (9*) and James Hancox (10*) pushing the score up to 213-7.

Richard Jones made the first break through when Sharp (4) drove straight to Hore at backward point. Jones (13-0-34-2) and Matt Tyler (13-4-24-3) both bowled testing opening spells, and it was just reward when a Tyler outswinger found the edge of Holland's (11) bat and ended up in the safe hands of White at first slip.

The very next ball Churchman (0) flashed hard at a ball outside off stump which seemed destined for the boundary, only for James Hancox to pull off a quite magnificent Collingwood-esque one handed catch, high above his head at gully. Churchman stood momentarily in disbelief as Hancox disappeared under a mass of jubilant Rockhampton bodies. Jones struck again when Gibson (24) drove uppishly to Tyler at backward point, before Hancox (13-1-46-3) starred with the ball, all three of his victims clean bowled, including Englebrecht (32), Dumbleton's last hope. Will Tyler pounced in the covers to run-out Reid (1), whilst Emery (48*) batted through the Dumbleton innings, which finished on 144-9.

Tomorrow's home clash with league leaders Gloucester City Winget commences at 1.30pm.