BELVEDERE won the toss and chose to bat on a difficult pitch which required hard work from the batsman.

BELVEDERE won the toss and chose to bat on a difficult pitch which required hard work from the batsman.

Neil Chadwick and Gary Gullick put on 40 crucial runs for the first wicket before Gullick was bowled by Jenkins. Joe Gadd joined Chadwick and the pair produced the best partnership of the day. Chadwick was more aggressive and Gadd batted with great maturity to put on 44 priceless runs.

North Newton took the initiative when Chadwick was caught on the boundary and Rob Watts was dismissed for a duck. Ian Tasker (24) and Kevin Crockett (21 not out) ensured Belvedere were able to set a defendable total reaching 178-7 at tea.

Belvedere tore into the North Newton batsman after tea, Andy Loud and Brian Hosey bowling with great accuracy and occasional fire. The bowlers were well supported by a fine fielding performance, Ray Dibben taking two catches the the first five overs.

The turning point of the North Newton reply was the introduction of Rob Statham who ripped the heart our of the North Newton innings with an inspired spell of bowling. Dibben picked up another catch and Chadwick held a superb catch at gully to support Statham who finished with figures of 4-26.

A run-out and a wicket apiece for Dave Taylor and Watts finished off the North Newton reply for a paltry 99 ensuring Belvedere picked up 33 points.

Tasker Printers man of the match was shared between Rob Statham and Neil Chadwick.

Belvedere secured their second consecutive away victory with a fine 24-run victory over Wellington.

Belvedere gave a debut to Anup Kolambkar who produced a fine performance. Kolambkar opened the batting with Neil Chadwick against challenging bowling on a damp pitch and 47 runs were put on for the first wicket, when Kolambkar was dismissed for 20 and Chadwick was out the following over for a hard worked 25. Wellington seized the advantage by dismissing Gary Gullick and Rob Watts cheaply, but Joe Gadd produced the best innings of the match and steered Belvedere towards a defendable total. Gadd found support from skipper Ian Tasker who was quick to punish anything loose.

Gadd smashed seven fours and a massive six in an innings of 57 and Tasker scored an entertaining 30. Kev Crockett (12) ensured Belvedere reached 159-7 after 45 overs, a respectable score against good bowling on a pitch with indifferent bounce.

Wellington experienced similar problems against accurate Belvedere bowling and failed to bat with as much discipline.

Brian Hosey led the way by dismissing both openers, Ray Dibben holding a catch and Moysey the victim of a fine caught and bowled. Gullick held a fine catch in the slips to give Hosey a deserved third wicket and Andy Loud trapped Sparkes leg before to leave the Wellington reply in shreds at 31-4.

Kolambkar was introduced to the attack and bowled superbly and was quite often unplayable. He was rewarded with he wicket of P Short caught behind by Dibben and Dave Taylor took the sixth wicket with the score on 70 as Capaldi was stumped by Dibben for 22.

Wellington threatened victory as Short and Trott finished well, but two wickets in an over from Andy Loud and another catch by Dibben off Rob Watts left Belvedere on the brink of victory.

It was left to Kolambkar to finish off Wellington by bowling Varkeisser, resulting in a hard earned victory for the visitors.

Tasker Printers man of the match went to Joe Gadd.

Belvedere 2nd XI continued their winning run with a tense 18-run victory over Long Sutton.

Belvedere lost the toss and were asked to bat on a poor Clarence Park pitch. Wickets fell at regular intervals and Belvedere were indebted to Dave Huxtable who mixed caution and aggression to record a well fought 51.

The only other batsman to reach double figures were Adam Cooper (19) and young Sam McRae who showed maturity beyond his years to finish 12 not out. Belvedere were all out for 111.

Belvedere knew a good bowling performance was needed to secure victory and they were given a fine start by Sam McRae as he accounted for both openers in a fine opening spell which saw him take 2-16 from his permitted five overs. Rob Statham (4-32) was soon in his stride and produced some fine deliveries to rip through the middle order. Kevon Burgess (4-13) bowled with good pace and the Long Sutton lower order had no reply as both bowlers wreaked havoc in a devastating spell.

Long Sutton were dismissed for 93, aided by a much improved fielding display.

Tasker Printers man of the match was Dave Huxtable for a fine innings in difficult conditions.

The previous week Belvedere 2nd XI consolidated their winning start with an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Barrington 2nd XI.

Fielding first, Belvedere kept things tight with good opening spells from Andy Taylor and Brad Ashfield. The breakthrough came when debutant Graham Morris bowled Barrington's opener.

Wickets were hard to come by, but the Belvedere bowlers were still containing the batsmen well on a good pitch and fast outfield. Barrington started to up the tempo towards the end of the innings and wickets fell. Barrington finished on a below par 201-7 from their 45 overs. Wicket takers were Andy Taylor (3-63), Graham Morris (2-43), Gary Rogerson (1-27) and Matt Vincent (1-39)

In reply, Belvedere made a dreadful start and were soon 8-2. Adam Cooper and Matt Vincent set about rebuilding the innings and added 90 before Vincent mis-hit a shot and was caught for 43.

Dave Huxtable carried on the good work and with a faultless display from Cooper the pair shared an unbeaten stand of 105 to win the game, the winning runs being hit with 13 overs to spare. Cooper carried his bat to finish 76 not out and Huxtable reached his 50 as he finished the match with a boundary.