Weekend of 21/04/2007 to 22/04/2007

Ashford 1st team more than held their own against a full strength Hythe side at Ball Lane. Despite missing 3 first-team regulars, the Ashford side showed their capabilities in a close-fought encounter on a fantastic pitch.

Batting first, Hythe's strong batting line up were reduced to 30 for 4 thanks to a superb opening salvo from Simon Taylor and Alex Watson. Watson accounted for the dangerous Morgan, LBW, and Taylor had Pichowski caught at gully and the former Whitstable run-machine Smith caught behind. A fantastic run out by Stuart Paine had the Hythe skipper Dan Furnival staring down the barrel, but he and brother Ollie repaired the damage and over the next 30 overs batted sensibly to post a respectable total of 218. Dan Furnival completed a fine century.

A new Ashford opening pair of Julian Day and Liam Tegg set about the task in hand positively and raced to 70 for 0 off 9 overs before Day fell for a powerful 35-ball 54. Tegg took up the mantle and along with Stuart Paine, and then Shannon Fattore, pushed Ashford towards their target. Tegg fell for 78 and with a run-a-ball needed of the last 3 overs, Simon Taylor fell leaving Fattore and Watson to finish the job. Unfortunately for the home side, Watson holed out to long off from the last ball to give Hythe a tight victory by 2 runs.

Ashford will take many positives from this first fixture. Good bowling and fielding was followed by positive and sensible batting (until the final over!) and the first team debut for young Oliver Bartlett augers well for the future. The return of leg spinner Craig Buckham was also a feature that gives the team hope for the coming season.

Hythe 218-4 (40 overs) (S.Taylor 2-14, A.Watson 1-53)

Ashford 216-5 (40 overs) (L.Tegg 74, J.Day 54, S.Fattore 48*)

Lost by 2 runs

Ashford 2nd's began their preparation for the new league season with a friendly against local rivals Hythe on a glorious sunny afternoon at the coast. In a forty over match Hythe batted first against the young Ashford attack and started solidly enough. Dan Chadwick on loan from Boughton bowled tidily but it was 17 year old James Rodway who eventually got the deserved breakthrough clean bowling Nigel Pichowski for 10. Hythe continued to score steadily but Chris Senior bowled a very tidy spell with good support from Nigel Crannis. Leg spinner Dean Clark did get some turn but his 5 over spell proved expensive and it was left to young Matt Nash to put the breaks on with a superb 1 for 12 from his 5 overs. With Chadwick picking up a deserved wicket at the end Hythe finished on 225-3 with Goddard 46 and Chappell 66.

Skipper Darran Wood opened the Ashford innings with Neil Tegg and these two made a very steady start. With Tegg playing the anchor role Wood soon got after the Hythe attack striking a couple of lusty blows over cover but with the score on 48 Wood was bowled by Toms for 22. 18 year old Australian James Anthony making his Ashford debut was quickly off the mark but misjudged a single on the off side and was run out for 5 and Simon Berry also looked comfortable before being bowled by a "shooter" for 8. Just when it looked like Tegg would reach his half century he was yorked by Morgan for 46 and with Tom Britland falling quickly afterwards it was left to Chris Senior to play his normal entertaining cameo. His 20 runs including one massive six. Another youngster James Rodway then capped a good bowling performance earlier with a quick fire 16 not out which included a great strike for 6, but it was not enough and Ashford eventually finished on 159-9.

Despite the result skipper Darran Wood was pleased with his young side singling out wicket keeper Simon Berry, James Rodway and Matthew Nash for praise.

Hythe 225-3 (40 overs) (M.Nash 1-12)

Ashford 159-9 (40 overs) (N.Tegg 46, D.Wood 22, C.Senior 20)

Lost by 66 runs

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