Captain Reardon rested himself from this game so I took charge, subsequently lost the toss - not a good omen for the season to come - but fortunately the Croesy skipper elected to field on what looked a decent batting track.

Nipper and Dicky Matthews opened up proceedings, Nipper wasted no time at all and was quickly walking back to the pavillion with a golden duck to his name, Dicky quickly followed him with only a single extra on the board and once Steve Hall went also for a duck the scoreboard read Blackwood 1-3 off 3 overs. All wickets taken by the 16 year old Dan Evans whom our first three had played like a young Wasim Akram!!!

Things were not looking good until Ebby and Danny came together and both looked like they had not been away from the crease, Danny timing the ball like a professional and Ebby hitting some trademark lusty blows to restore respectability to the score until Martin played a rash shot on 40 that saw the skipper to the crease. Off the mark with a cheeky leg glance followed by whipping one off his hip to the mid-wicket boundary and suddenly things didn't seem so bad. Poor shot selection saw me give my wicket away for 24, Tom Watkins briefly flirted with the scorers but played a poor shot and was out for 13.

A gaunt looking Billy Ford then joined Danny and despite a mix up between the wickets that made Lance Klusener and Allan Donald look like they knew what they were doing both were undefeated at the end with the score on an impressive looking 279-6, Wilcox unbeaten on a superb 130 and Ford offering great support on 42 not out.

Croesy made a slightly better start than we did, they managed to last 6 balls before Bobby Matthews bowled the opener for a duck. Aaktor Ballach looked like he would win the game on his own, easily getting to 50 before a superb throw from the Gaunt one saw him run out by about 10 feet.

Both Tom 'Marlboro Lights' Watkins and Bobby 'Bobo' Matthews bowled a great first spell of 6 overs each, Marlboro, particularly unlucky not to pick up a wicket. The introduction of spin was a mistake as centurion Wilcox rapidly repaid Croesy's generosity of their bowlers with 4 overs that cost him 33, although Ebby did get blamed for moving himself wider (bet you never though Martin could get wider eh???). Wilcox came out of the attacked and the Gaunt one came on but the service was pretty much the same and Blackwood looked doomed until Ford pitched one half way down the wicket, it shot along the floor hit the guys bat then his pad and trundled onto the stumps to break the deadlock

At the other end Dicky 'Dido' Matthews again showed great pace and bowled a decent first 5 overs until the skipper kept him on one too many and he went for an additional 12 before being asked to take a Benson.

Steve 'Ginger Burns' Hall briefly repressed the run fest with three tight overs, but again one too many and he was quickly whipped out of the attack.

Croesy wanted around 100 off the last 10 but superb bowling by Marlboro who picked up two with his second spell and the Matthews brothers, along with a decent cameo by Kieran 'Doctor' Rowe saw Blackwood home to victory and Croesyceiliog finish on 258-7 in their 40 overs.

A little bit too close for comfort but another one in the win column for this season!

MOTM - Danny Boy for a superb 130

An excellent turn out for the first Outdoor Training Session of the season, followed by a player's meeting where I am sure everyone feels confident that the respective sides will have a successful season.

First game on Sunday, over the bridge at Portishead - a long time since Blackwood went into England to play pre-season but no reason why we should not make it a regular thing.

Bus leaves the club at 12pm ready for a 2pm start - lets make it a successful start and a good piss up will surely follow

Shelts

You will find various blogs from the various captains throughout the season, the players will also be able to respond to the blogs and make comments of their own.

Lets have some positive feedback

Shelts