Third match into the season and all of us seemed to be firmly focused on the match ahead - that being the Champions League final! Perfect conditions all day meant no chance of being able to see the whole match, so we would have to be content with just watching the seconds halves play. The outfield conditions were fairly suspect with the odd piece of excrement lying around and the bowlers who would bowl from one end would have a literal mountain to climb before delivering.

Down to the actual business of the day. Our skip won the toss and fancied a bowl. Our seemingly reliable opening bowlers of Brown and Lambshead took the new ball. Brown kept it tight and was underused and Lambshead even though got the breakthrough struggled with his rhythm bowling uphill.

The skip came on for Brown and with the more favourable conditions downhill again kept it tight. Adams replaced Lambshead uphill and like Lambshead struggled to find his rhythm. Following on from Smith came Davies and in his opening over managed to get a wicket, by bowling a juicy full toss that was skied up to square leg.

By this time the United Banks opening bat seemed to gain in confidence and became somewhat explosive as their innings progressed. The skip however did not pick up on this and when offered a chance at deep midwicket off the bowling of Adams, he decided it would be better to give the batsmen the opportunity to see in he could manage a ton! So Smith kneed the ball on the volley to Lambshead who pinged it in to run out their chap who was on nought instead.

Everyone at this point was focused on getting round quickly as we were conscious of not wanting to miss out on the Liverpool match, none more so then Clements. Standing slightly backward of point he pointed out to Smith 'the taller' that there was someone missing from deep mid on. Smith duly replied 'yes mate its you'.

Following the run out, who was to come in next but a boy making his senior debut. Adams' eyes lit up, he showed no mercy and sent him back to the pavilion after just facing one ball. However, the United Bank run machine continued his assault being ruthless through the covers and long off. Davies managed to knock one chaps off stump down, but Lockwood (UB opener) managed to farm the strike well and Smith retuning uphill for the final over has his figures somewhat dented. United Banks finished up on 122 for 5, with Lockwood getting 89 of those.

Davies strode to the wicket with a new opening partner, Cryer. The first over was seen off without any drama. The second saw Cryer face his first ball for HOB and was duly despatch for four. However his cross-batted technique was his undoing and lost his leg stump in the next over. Warmington came in and quickly got Davies run out calling for a single which was never there. The skip eager to make up for his costly mistake came in and together with Warmington rebuilt the HOB assault steadily.

Warmington succumbed trying to lift the run rate, but not before making a solid 22. Jo Smith accompanied the skip at the wicket, but brotherly instinct failed to materialise with another mix up of running between the wickets saw Jo Smith return to the pavilion. Brown came in and now it was either up to him or the skip to make a name for themselves. The skip was bowled by going for one shot too many and Brown hitting through his favoured off side scored a composed 20 before being stumped. Clements, Rackham and Adams went as quickly as they came and by now we were just hoping not to be bowled out. Fillingham and Lambshead gave some heafty blows late on to finish on 12 and 7 not out respectively.

In conclusion we were beaten by the destructiveness of one batsman. Our general play was encouraging even though we conceded 120, their batsmen were hitting through the 'V' that shows we were not dropping it short, however our running between the wickets needs to be improved upon. Joel Brown was named man of the match for conceding just two runs in three overs and for a fluent 20.