Following the disappointing defeat in the previous game, Ross-on-Wye 1st XI travelled away to Presteigne and enjoyed the winning feeling for the sixth time this season as a result of a comprehensive eight wicket victory.

After reaching the ground via various scenic routes, the players and supporters enjoyed some great camaraderie and the fun and togetherness was evident from the off as Jack Donovan won an important toss and elected to bowl first.

This decision was justified as Adam Davies and Chloe Tingle shared the new ball, and restricted the opening batsmen to just 25 runs off the first 10 overs to build pressure on the hosts.

The early pressure told as first change bowler Andrew Tingle capitalised on his sister’s accuracy by striking in his first over. This wicket was to be just the first of A.Tingle’s victims as he bowled with good pace, varying his lengths, on what was certainly proving to be a testing wicket.

His next success was courtesy of the champagne moment of the day, when Adam Davies sprinted back from mid-wicket, turning around with the ball coming over his shoulder, to dive one handed and claim a truly sensational catch, which was met with spectacular celebrations from the Ross team.

At the other end, skipper Donovan (2-6 from eight overs) piled on the pressure with swing and pace, beating the bat consistently and picking up two bowled wickets for his efforts.

Andrew Tingle continued his onslaught with the ball and deservedly picked up a five wicket haul to finish with 5-28. With Marcus Bailey securing a run out, it was then left to the returning Chloe Tingle to wrap up the innings with the last two wickets, courtesy of a stumping and the other clean bowled, as she finished with the exceptionally economic figures of 2-9 from 8.5 overs. The hosts had limped to just 77 all out in 33.2 overs leaving Ross confident of the chase. 

The Hedgehogs got off to a good start on a difficult pitch with Jim Lewis and Stu Mair running hard between the wickets to pick up all the runs they could get due to the large slow outfield. With an array of cut and pull shots, the partnership reached 40 before Lewis perished for a solid 13.

Joining Mair, Donovan struck a four first up before the two toiled for a while before Mair unfortunately perished for what was an excellent knock of 31. This then brought the experienced Graham Howls to the crease and he quickly dispatched two fours to close out an eight wicket win with some 20 overs to spare.

The 24 points from this victory sees Ross in joint second place at the halfway stage of the Division Two season and the team travel away to Luctonians at the weekend to continue their title fighting campaign.