Club Captain Matt Allin and Premiership Batsman Dan Bowser opened the batting but couldn't withstand the hostile pace attack of Clements and Hayter for long. Allin in particular showed little respect for his elders, smashing Clements for 18 in his first two overs. Hayter then deceived Bowser with a straight one (having earlier deceived Allin with a tennis ball) and then removed Allin with his next delivery. Luxton survived the hat-trick.

Meanwhile at the other end, Luke Kerr carried on where Allin left off, taking 20 off two more Clements overs, until he too was found wanting against the pace and accuracy of Hayter. Enter older brother Liam to steady the ship with a gutsy display under pressure. Battered and bruised he bravely soldiered on and was eventually 8th out with the score at 139.
Leg-spinning legend Dave Staddon replaced Clements and in a double wicket maiden removed Luxton and Hodges to finish with creditable figures of 2-20 off five.

Pete Stevens, coming in at 70-5, once again showed no fear, hitting four 4's and two 6's in a whirlwind 38 which turned out to be the game's top score. (Very much to his credit, he bought a jug afterwards.) Together with Liam Kerr, he put on 66 for the 6th wicket - a match winning partnership. As a side-note, it's worth stating for those who don't know, that two weeks ago Pete (or Paul, according to the Sunday Independent), smashed the famous Devon bowler Blakey for six over extra cover. Honest.

From 136-5 the Youngsters once again collapsed. Bradley Rasool (4-39) saw to it that the last five wickets made only 17 with his mix of South African spin wizardry and penetrating seamers. Seven of the ten wickets to fall were clean bowled. The standard of bowling and fielding by the Oldies was, as usual, outstanding and inspirational, and set the tone for the second half of the match...

After tea it was up to Keith Bettiss and James Ford to see off the opening bowlers Alex Hodges and Chris Luxton. Unfortunately for them, Alex had other ideas, bowling his first ball with an apple, then blasting them both out by the seventh over, Ford for 12, Bettiss for 7. Almost unplayable, he finished with figures of 8-3-16-3. Luxton too bowled with accuracy, together restricting the Oldies to 53-4 off the first twenty.

It was always going to be a tough ask from that point as the wicket became more and more difficult. Dan Bowser (a Premiership bowler - left arm around) found a good line and length as well as turn and bounce and proved hard to get away. Matt Clarke bowled a consistently nagging line and length for figures of 6-1-6-0 while Dan got 3-22 at the other end. The pressure was so much that star batsman Bradley Rasool was sadly run out as he and Alan Withecombe rendezvous-ed at the same end. As Bradley walked off, it appeared the Oldies' hopes went with him.

Ian Hayter came in and top scored with 16 (apart from extras with 21) to add a little cheer for the oldies but it just wasn't their day. Jack Hockin bowled the perfect unplayable delivery to remove left hand batsman Will Barratt. Pitching outside leg, the ball turned and bounced and clipped the top of Will's off stump. (Sounds like the "Gatting" ball......well done Jack!)

As the wicket got slower and lower, Captain Fishleigh was undone by the submarine ball and it was all but game over. Oldies last five wickets managed a paltry 28 runs due to the fine bowling performance of the three spinners and young Matt, who polished up with 2-3.

Afterwards, Pam Elworthy presented Matt Allin with the Winners' Cup, which is the only piece of silverware he'll get his hands on this year.