A cracking all-round performance by Skipper Andrew Shelton (37) and (5-20) saw the wood through to an excellent victory over a young Hoovers side.

Again, the skipper lost the toss and Hoovers' captain, the evergreen Ron Walton invited us to bat first on a damp green track - along with the comment from Percy Potter - "if this game goes 100 overs I'll eat my flip flop"

An excellent start by Scotty Gameson and former Dr Who, Tom Baker - saw Blackwood get to 50 before Scotty needlessly danced down the track to Hoovers' young spinner Barry and Scotty was stumped for 14. Former Dr Who, Tom Baker again looked a natural with the bat before he became the leggy's second victim for 21 with 62 on the board. That brought in the Flip Flop muncher to join Carl Gump and they put on an excellent 51 before Carl was bowled for 27. Percy soon followed, as did Former Dr Who, Tom Baker's brother Dusty who got an absolute snorter first ball and suddenly Dai "Straw" Berry and the skipper were together at the crease with the score on 117-5. Two nice 4s followed from young Straw before Ron Walton bowled him with a cracking slower ball.

That brought 53 year old Duncan "Co Stompe" Gwilt to the crease who batted like a dart player, he didn't last long and all of a sudden Blackwood were in a spot of bother with 7 down and a mere 140 on the board.

Tommy 'Marlboro' Watkins hung around with the skipper and some guy called Alan Extra before he bent down to pick up a fag end, slipped and was stumped off Walton. With the score on 199-8, the skipper was dismissed by a superb diving catch and it was left to the last pair Gavin "The Casino Kid" Jones and Bobby "I Can Feel Runs" Matthews to see us through to 4 batting points and a total of 217-9.

The Flip-Flop feast was currently still possible, despite Percy's pre-game prediction.

A superb opening spell by the Gwilt brothers Gavin and Carl, saw runs hard to come by and it wasn't until the 21st over that Hoover's first boundary came and by then they were two down with only 33 on the board. The Casino Kid bowled straight through and ended up with fantastic figures of 10-4-17-1, ably backed up by his elder and uglier brother (although KG might dispute that fact) who finished with 0-13 off his 7 overs.

Bobby Matthews then pulled a baconstring and from then on it was the tale of two spinners, with 53 year old Great Uncle Gwilt (Co Stompe) and the skipper bowling brilliantly in tandem. Stompe finished with 10-1-29-1 and the skipper 10-1-20-5. By the time the skipper finished his spell the only unanswered question was whether or not Percy would get to eat his flip flop.

Enter the final over, who would bowl it........ Up to the plate stepped Straw Berry, would he save the day for Percy??? Surely not, surely we would have the first ever flip flop eaten by a Blackwood player but no Berry wrapped up a superb victory by clean bowling Ron Walton, Blackwood won by 69 runs and Percy's flip flop would live to see another day :(

MOTM - got to be myself I'm afraid boys 37 runs, 5-20 and a catch

TFC - Former Dr Who, Tom Baker's brother Dusty

1. Shelts (c)
2. Former Dr Who (wk)
3. The Mega Bus Man
4. The Casino Kid
5. Straw Berry
6. Former Dr Who's brother Dusty
7. Co Stompe
8. Marlboro
9. Bubba
10. Bobo Matthews
11. Bowyers

12th Man - Jeff's boy, Patrick Baker

Meet 12:10pm sharp

The pressure is coming from guys in the thirds boys, plus the first team will have players available next week. If you want to keep your place you have to perform.

4 weeks into the season and a slim(ish) looking second team (Scotty was at a wedding!!) achieved their first victory of the season in a damp Ponthir.

I called wrong (tails) as I did last time out 4 weeks ago in Barry but couldn't believe my luck when the Ponthir skipper opted to bat first!

Gavin 'The Casino Kid' Jones making his first 2nd team game of the season opened up with his slightly portlier brother Carl 'Little Fester' Gwilt and the Ponthir skipper was soon walking bat thanks to a superb catch behind the stumps by the former Dr Who, Tom Baker off the Casino Kid. He had his second wicket a few overs later when former professional footballer Gary Knott had three goes at catching an absolute sitter at cover. The portlier brother then joined the party and clean bowled their number 4 (his only notable contribution of the day - aside from a few misfields and collecting the tea money)

Knott was soon in the action again when he caught the Ponthir opener, MacDougall using only his armpit off Tom 'Marlboro' Watkins. Knott was soon asked to bowl, replacing Watkins at the top end and took a wicket with his first ball (nice change skipper!!!) and at the end of his 10 overs ended up with 4-14, including another catch!) The Ponthir innings ended when The Casino Kid picked up his 3rd wicket with his first ball of his second spell (another nice change skipper!!!)

An excellent bowling and fielding performance that included an excellent spell of 10 overs by Albert Hall, conceding only 29 runs and the return to action after 10 years of 53 year old Jason 'Duncan' Gwilt - Carl & Gavin's Great Uncle. The old-timer let no-one down although a full toss from Knotty almost lead to the ordering of a bench as the old guy was fielding at silly point at the time! It would have hit him if he had any hair!!!

117 all out

After an enjoyable tea Blackwood started their reply with a portlier looking Matty Evans and the former Dr Who Tom Baker opening proceedings and after 15 overs were 58-0 when the heaven's opened and the players trooped off.

Things were not looking good but then Dai Berry left the changing room and immediately everyone's spirits were lifted somewhat. Around 40 minutes were lost to the weather but eventually the two teams went back on and the score progressed to 72 when the former Dr Who Tom Baker was out for an excellent 22.

With the sky still looking dodgy I decided to send in the big hitting Casino Kid to try and finish things quickly but despite one lusty hoik that brought him a 4, the gamble didn't pay off and Albert trudged out to join Evo. It looked as though Hall and Evans would bring home the bacon but with one run wanted to win Splillett set off for a quick single but got a firm NOOOOOOOOOO from Gwatkin and he was run out for 50. The mix up cost us a point but the former Dr Who Tom Baker's brother Dusty soon hit the winning run and we all went home happy bunnies.

MOTM - Gareth Knott - 4 wickets, 3 catches

TFC - Carl Gwilt / Dai Berry

Team is

Shelts (c)
Tom Baker (wk)
Marlboro
Dusty Baker
Little Fester
Gumpy
Knotty
Dunky
Matty Evs
Nipper's Bro
Ginger Burns

Meet 12pm sharp

Andrew Shelton (c) *
Tom Baker (wk)
Carl Gwilt *
Steve Hall
Ashley Baker
Rhodri Evans
David Berry *
Matthew Evans
Tom Darling
Tom Watkins
Rhys Norville

Meet 12:30pm sharp at the club

Those with an asterix (*) by their name please meet at 12:10 in order to complete work on the ground