After an enforced week of no action due to the postponement of another two fixtures owing to the British summer - bringing the total cancellations for the season to 11 - we were more than eager to get the hammering from the MOD out of the system with our first ever game against WGs. Captain Jo Smith returned from the toss out in the middle announcing that he had lost his first ever call as captain and were therefore fielding first.

The return of Jon Smith to the team strengthened our bowling line up and we were quickly celebrating two wickets with Jon claiming his 50th and then 51st wicket for HOBs. Some tidy bowling from Anth Barratt, Jo Smith and Stu Adams limited the batting team with assistance from a very helpful and slightly damp grass in the outfield!! The highlight of the first half of this match was the great boundary catch from Anth off Jo's bowling. On the captain's advice, Barrett dropped out to Long Off to protect the straight boundary after a few big shots from their opener Dickinson and within the over he fell into the trap. A couple of easy chances were shed in the field especially a sitter from Jon - no excuses about the sun on this one! A few late lusty blows, unfortunately off Ed Davies resulted in a total of 93 for 5, which was probably a few too many than we'd hoped to be chasing but we were still confident of getting back to winning ways.

Once again the batting order was shuffled to give those that hadn't batted recently an opportunity and Jon Smith and Pete Trahar opened. Jon looked like a man that needed time in the middle and rode his luck after being dropped second ball after a cagey start. Pete missed a straight one and was clean bowled in the second over, then after some dodgy calling and running, Al Pearce was run out and Jon followed shortly after having been caught leaving us 12 for 3. Phil Serjeant and Jo Smith consolidated the innings with some singles in consideration of the unlikely hood of anything going to the boundary due to the outfield. Up steps their opening bat that can also bowl a bit - apparently he used to play for Leicestershire about 15 years ago! Jo was his first victim; bowled for 10 by a beaut that knocked his off stump back and by the time Stu Adams got to the middle he received a brut of an inswinger which knocked back leg stump for a golden duck.

Our hopes were now with Phil Serjeant but he was caught brilliantly close in when he middled one for a decent knock of 21 and the game was slipping away. It was down to the mainstays of the whole season with the bat Ed Davies and Ash Fillingham to see us home. They saw off the danger bowler and then got a big over in to get back on course with the run rate, but the Ash was caught out in the deep playing one airy shot too many. Unfortunately due to some good fielding and some poor running we ended up losing our last two wickets to run outs and we were skittled for 69 with still 4 overs to go.

A very disappointing game with our batting letting us down again, and in particular our running between the wickets. The man of the match vote was difficult one but Barrett deserved it for his two wickets and two catches. Roll on Wednesday for us all to get some form before our Annual Tour match on Sunday in London.