Ross-on-Wye Cricket Club 2nds were able to select a much more experienced side for the away trip to Martley and comprehensively won the game by eight wickets with more than twelve overs to spare.

On arrival, the visitors lost the toss but the Martley openers struggled to vindicate their captain’s decision to bat first and they could not get any tempo into their game as Laddi Singh 9-2-19-0 and Allan Harris 9-3-21-1 bowled excellent line and length to keep the scoring rate well under control.

With Charlie Cole 1-31 also enjoying his most economical spell of the season the Martley innings was struggling to get above 3 an over until Paul Galvin (60) tucked into bowling of Richard Jeffryes and debutant Tom Edwards and really got the innings moving.

Wayne Husbands returned to bowl an excellent spell at the death which saw him pick up four wickets, including the dismissal of Galvin, thanks to an excellent catch in the deep by Angus McIntyre and Chairman Mair also chipped in with a rare wicket, as the hosts closed on 183-8.

After tea, McIntyre and Mair made a sensible, cautious start against the wily opening bowler Tej Uppal whilst attacking the other bowlers. Mair fell for 20 which brought Michael Jeffryes to the wicket and he continued to support 15 year old McIntyre.

With no batting collapse taking place out in the middle, the watching Ross players could relax, take in the picturesque local scenery and also watch the men in the middle bat on and on and on. Both increased the tempo with McIntyre showing excellent technique as he sailed past 50, and Jeffryes smashing a couple of trademark straight sixes before falling for 41.

Tom Edwards joined in the fun and the only tinge of disappointment on the day was that McIntyre just missed out on a deserved hundred, closing the game out with back to back boundaries to finish 98 not out as Ross collected a 20 point haul for the first time this season.

Skipper Richard Jeffryes was head over heels with the performance of his charges and the 2nds will move on to the match with high-flying Astwood Bank with renewed confidence.