STAPLEGROVE 116 TEMPLE CLOUD 118-3

Kevin Curtis won the toss for the home side and put Staplegrove in to bat.

Temple’s opening attack of Miles Hackett (2-28) and Steve Brown (1-21) restricted the visitors so that after eighteen overs they were 3-50. A promising half-century partnership between Wood and Horton put Staplegrove back on course, but the introduction of Simon Mahoney into the home attack proved decisive. He dismissed Wood and then took the tail apart, finishing with 5-31 off seven overs. Rob Head took the final wicket with the visitors on 116 off 32 overs.

Temple’s reply started disastrously, with openers, Miles Hackett and Simon Curtis, both dismissed before before the innings reached double figures. Billy Garrett (26 not-out) then played a holding role, while Dave Willock (23) and then Kevin Curtis (37 not-out) pushed the scoring rate along. They reached the necessary total with seven wickets and plenty of overs to spare.

A feature of the match was the number of catches dropped by both sides and the sporting spirit in which the game was played.

Meanwhile, Temple Seconds (142-9) visited Frome Thirds in a game played at Mells and came away victors by fourteen runs. In a close encounter, Temple were well on top, with Frome’s reply on 80-9, but a last-wicket stand of 45 set the nerves jangling until Alex Comer bowled David Brasher. Ian Appleyard was Temple’s most successful with 3-17, whilst Craig Dredge (3-13) starred for the home side.

G. Jackson