Kingswood Village (211-5 dec.) beat Send Occasionals (160) by 51 runs

BEATEN by three touring sides this season, Kingswood were anxious not to lose to old friends and rivals Send Occasionals on their 32nd visit.

Injuries and drop outs added to the fear but they were aided by the presence of Barry Morgan after a year off.

His performances with both bat and ball, plus a career-best knock from partner Oliver Madge, made up for the holes in the side.

At first, two early Kingswood wickets did not bode well but skipper Kevin Morgan's 30, a 38-ball 64 from brother Barry, a personal best 67 not out from Madge and a walking wounded 17 by Vince Taylor gave them a useful 211-5 declared.

For almost the entire innings, Send had nobly fielded in pouring rain.

Send's blitzkrieg opening stand of 69 in nine overs by Rog Patterson (37) and Joel Sutherland (25) suggested their early victory until a run out and four wickets from Barry Morgan reduced them to 108-5.

With only resistance from Conrad Goetzee (34), a steady trickle of wickets and the recall to his regiment of number 10, Otto von Runkle, left Send 160 all out.