The voice of ex Swanwick school English teacher, Rex Goodall, simply said “clutching defeat from the jaws of victory” summed up the situation.

With local neighbours Riddings standing at 73-8 chasing Swanwick’s total of 124 the game seemed practically over. Unfortunately Selby (36*) and Nobby Coxhead (18*) had different ideas as they shared a partnership of 52 to gain 22 points for the visitors and leave Swanwick searching for their first victory of the season.

A relatively simple catch was ‘put down’ but regretfully Swanwick’s heads followed in the same manner.

Following heavy rain yet again, low batting scores were generally going to be the order of the day throughout the county, and on batting first Swanwick battled through their 46 overs with Steve Mee top scoring on 31 with Selby having a memorable day taking 4-24 as well as practically winning the game with his innings.

Condron took 3-26 and Coxhead 2-32, as the Riddings batters were relatively confident of knocking off the modest total.

As wickets fell regularly Swanwick became more confident as Rich Leam took 4-41 off maximum and Thomas Coxhead and John White took two each.

The latter took a superb caught and bowled to dismiss Steele. The confidence drained as Selby and Coxhead took command and Riddings made the short trip down the road wondering how they had gained victory.

Unfortunately the 2nd XI were advised in the morning that their game could not be played owing to the fact that “the ground staff had been unable to get onto the square to prepare the track”.

To be fair, this was not the only game that was cancelled but nontheless irritating when the Swanwick ground staff didn’t leave the ground until gone 9pm the night before!

Improvement

The Sunday XI continued to show improvement as the season progressed albeit the last two games had only produced a winning draw and a loss.

The previous game being against Denby where Swanwick Sunday XI batted first and totalled an excellent 181-6 off 30 overs. Surprise, surprise the game was reduced in overs due to rain.

Andy Wilson scored 62 with Jake Hill 28 in a solid opening partnership of 86. Ash Fisher was then 60 not out to boost the score as Marvin and Clarke took two wickets each.

In reply Denby set to the task with Marvin (34) and the prolific Liam Glenn who belies his age scoring 63.

Andy Wilson ‘doubled’ on the day with 3-36 and Glen Fisher took 2-25 as the visitors settled for a losing draw on 148-8.

Last Sunday Swanwick welcomed a young Cuckney side and they opted to bat on a pleasant sunny day.

Opener Wood dominated the innings with 64 in the final score of 155-6 as Adam Hine and Glen Fisher took two wickets each.

In reply the Swanwick innings stuttered badly as five wickets fell in the space of nine runs to leave the home side on 40-5.