At the half way stage of the season, Goodrich are in a strong position to reclaim the Marches Division 1 title after maintaining top spot with a four wicket win over Glangrwyney.
The Avenue was in magnificent condition, with scorching sunshine glistening on the newly painted Royston Young Pavilion. As ever, the dangers of skin cancer were ignored by the skipper and Goodrich were again out to field (and sweat) against relegation threatened Glangrwyney. Mark Bradford put the wickets column on the new scoreboard in motion(compliments to A Brown and A Evans for their handy work) with four wickets for 37 runs from a weight loss inducing 12 over spell. Tight bowling from the other end with James O'Brien bowling nine overs for 14 runs meant that Goodrich had the early ascendancy. Good fielding work including a run out involving four sets of hands kept the pressure on Glangrwyney, and the visitors were struggling for 100 for 6 after thirty overs. Despite further wickets from Rufus Davies (2 for 48) and Andy Evans (1 for 30), Glangrwyney reached a defendable total of 176 for 9 thanks to a well constructed 84 not out from Tim Jones.
With the afternoon's sun, the track was as now hard and flat as the A49 beneath it, and Goodrich set about their run chase in confident mood. However they lost Roger "Bagpuss" Lord for 13 after his new bat inexplicably played down the wrong line. Readers are to be informed that "Bagpuss" is in no way to blame and said willow will be returned to the shop this week. Goodrich then learnt the hard way that the sweep was not the right shot to play against Phil Bowker as Seymour (28), Griffiths (4) and Pyatt (4) all perished to leave Bowker Snr with 3 for 26. The scoreboard ticked over from the other end as Andy Brown made a half century for the 5th time this season before being caught in the deep. Rufus Davies followed on with a season high 35 in quick time to take the hosts within sight of victory. Goodrich were seen home thanks to 18 not out from James "The Finisher" O'Brien and Mike Evans (9 no) with eight overs to spare and four wickets remaining.
Next weekend the Avenue hosts the visit of Herefordians on Saturday before the much anticipated opening ceremony of the new pavilion, followed by Goodrich taking on a Chairman's XI, on Sunday afternoon.