It was a weekend of mixed fortunes for March Town.
While there were defeats for the club’s first and second sides, the Sunday first XI turned in another top performance as their impressive early form in the Rutland League continued.
A trip to former East Anglian Premier League side Saffron Walden was never going to be easy for March firsts, who slipped to a six wicket defeat in Whitings League Division One.
The visitors were up against it from the very start and did well to recover from 39-3 to 139 all out.
Skipper Tyler Phillips top-scored with 37, Ben Pyle made 36 and Chris Ringham, on his return to the side, remained unbeaten on 17.
That was never going to be enough on one of the flattest and quickest decks in the league, with Saffron Walden romping to 106 without loss, before finally losing four quick wickets.
Andy Wright pitched in with 2-41 and Pyle made it a good all-round day with 2-31.
• March 1st XI 139 all out, 43.5 overs (Tyler Phillips 37, Ben Pyle 36, Chris Ringham 17no), Saffron Walden 143-4, 28.5 overs (Ben Pyle 2-31, Andy Wright 2-41).
Three down inside three overs is not the sort of start March 2nds would have wished for in their opening CCA Senior League Division Two match of the season.
But 62 from Rob Tombs, 53 from Steve Coe and 24 not out from Richard Green helped them to 167-7 against visitors Buntingford.
Again that was well under par for the wicket and the visitors crossed the line with six wickets intact - Tombs having rounded off a fine performance with 2-20.
• March 2nd XI 167-7, 45 overs (Rob Tombs 62, Steve Coe 53, Richard Green 24no), Buntingford 170-4, 40.3 overs (Rob Tombs 2-20, Matty Vail 1-10, Stuart Arnold 1-17).
But the comparison between Saturday and Sunday cricket at March is like chalk and cheese, as the town’s first Sunday XI cruised to an eight wicket win at The Avenue to top the table in Rutland League Division Two.
They maintained their 100 per cent record, having bowled visitors Newborough out for 90 in just 24.3 overs.
Skipper Andy Wright (3-15) was one of three bowlers to snap up three wickets - the other two being spinners Steve Coe (3-14) and Shaz Akhter (3-29).
In reply, club captain Tyler Phillips thumped a bullish half-century off 34 balls, having figured in a 52-run opening stand with Ben Pyle (20) in a mere 5.2 overs.
• Newborough 90 all out, 24.3 overs (Steve Coe
3-14, Andy Wright 3-15, Shaz Akhter 3-29),
March 1st XI 93-2, 11.1 overs (Tyler Phillips 50, Ben Pyle 20).
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