DEFEATS for the Wisbech and March first teams cost them promotion from Rutland League Division One on Sunday. However, there was good news for March II when they secured the Fenland Trophy title with two emphatic wins at the weekend. And in the same compe

DEFEATS for the Wisbech and March first teams cost them promotion from Rutland League Division One on Sunday.

However, there was good news for March II when they secured the Fenland Trophy title with two emphatic wins at the weekend.

And in the same competition, there were encouraging signs from the Wisbech youngsters when two players recorded their maiden half-centuries.

March II won the Fenland Trophy championship with two excellent all-round performances at home to Warboys and Huntingdon.

On Saturday, Richard Green (3-18), Josh Jackman (2-25) and Phil Goodfellow (2-38) led the bowling attack as March restricted Warboys to 157-8. And the home side lost only one wicket as they romped to their target. Opener Connor Cunningham (35) was impressive once again and the partnership of skipper Stephen Wallis (58 no) and Alex Stone (39) saw March home.

And 24 hours later, March chalked-up their second nine-wicket win of the weekend against Huntingdon.

Another three-pronged attack, this time from Stone (3-11), Green (3-17) and Alex Bayes (3-31) dismissed the visitors for just 109. And 14-year-old Cunningham was again in the runs as his 60 not out guided March to their target with nine wickets intact.

Wallis, in his first season as team captain, said: "It is very pleasing to win the Fenland Trophy.

"We managed to create a good atmosphere within the team and kept winning. The most rewarding feature was the many young players who performed on a regular basis."

March I's promotion hopes in the Rutland League disappeared with a four-wicket defeat at Ufford Park.

Ben Stallworthy (88), Matthew Vail (61) and Shardul Brahmbhatt (50) batted well in the visitors' competitive total of 256-9.

No fewer than six March bowlers took a wicket apiece but the home side did enough to score 258-6.

Wisbech first team's slim promotion hopes were dashed at Buckminster but there was something for the team to cheer when Dominic Stannard hit his maiden half-century.

The home side scored an impressive 324-5 with Martin McDowell (2-29) leading the Wisbech bowling figures.

The visitors were in trouble at 54-7 but Stannard's superb 64 helped to improve the Wisbech total and lead them to 171 all out.

Wisbech II brought the curtain down on their Fenland Trophy campaign with a home defeat to local rivals Leverington.

But once again, the promise of the young Wisbech team shone through and Lyndon Waters scored his maiden 50 to hit 51 not out in the home side's total of 146 all out.

Leverington seemed to be on the road to an easy win until the introduction of Adie Peck (3-3).

The visitors' batsmen wobbled but did just enough to win the match. John Bilcliff (39 not out) and Adam Fairbrother (30) were the top scorers.