DIFFERENT CLASS FROM DANNY-BOY

A fine all round performance from P&C enabled them to put last week's disappointment against Bentley behind them and keep up their Premier Division aspirations this season. P&C's eyes were looking upwards for much of a dismal day, as rain constantly threatened to ruin the hard work P&C put into both disciplines but thankfully only forced one brief interlude early on.

After losing the toss, P&C were predictably invited to bat first in challenging conditions and were a wicket down almost immediately. This was cue for Danny Laird on home debut to demonstrate what a tremendous asset he will be for P&C's top order this year and he showed great composure in a fine knock of 56. He received good support from Ben Francis (20) and then Jenkins (23) but at 100-5 the game was finely poised mainly thanks to Springfield's Rudkin (3-44). Martin Sayer then took the game away from Springfield with an expertly paced 46 and P&C were well satisfied with a final total of 193-8. Grainger (3-35) got in the act late on for Springfield as the home side just fell short of achieving maximum batting points.

In reply, Springfield lost both openers going for expansive shots, and at 8-2 under the grey skies, P&C's total looked a long way away. It was that man Laird that made it advantage P&C and he was to finish with fine figues of 4-28. Symonds (33) then threatened a revival in fortunes but wickets tumbled at regular intervals at the other end with Jenkins gentle seamers acquiring 4-25 in well-suited conditions. With Springfield 78-6 off 31 overs, the weather became P&C's biggest adversary, but fortunately there were no further breaks in play and Springfield limped to 142 all out, thanks to defiance from Foster (53).