New Ash Green (3points) 168 all out (49.4 overs)
Gravesend RFC (16 points) 172-3 (25.2 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 7 wickets

Still severely weakened by the holiday season and playing aginst the league leaders at virtually full strength this looked like a disaster waiting to happen for New Ash Green. It was a brave move to choose to bat first on winning the toss, but in fact a very respectable performance was put up, with Marc Klus leading the way (if you don't count extras) making 39 before being run out. Vic Mayers made 25 and there were several other minor contributions. the opening bowlers were seen off effectively, and although the change bowlers, skipper Meguel Dee (5-23) in particular, were rather more effective the innings was sustained till the final over of the innings for a creditable 168.

Sadly the same level of performance was not forthcoming from the bowlers, or perhaps the Gravesend batsmen were just more effective. Micky Sumner apparently bowled well again, but was expensive, Marc Klus had the best figures with 1-15 in 4 overs, perhaps deserving of a longer spell, and Matt Scanlan managed two maidens in four overs, though that suggests his other overs were a tad expensive. The Gravesend batsmen were rampant throughout, Dave Errington with 71 being the top scorer, and they romped home with nearly half the innings to spare.

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High Halstow (20 points) 270-9 (46 overs)
New Ash Green (4 points) 144 all out (31.5 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 126 runs

A severely depleted side, reduced to ten men due to last minute illness, travelled to the APCM ground at Cliffe, something of a come down from the previous day for Matthew Quantrill, who had been at the Nevil Ground in Tunbridge Wells for an all day game. New Ash Green won the toss and elected to bowl first, believing they had enough bowling to keep the score reasonable and could then pace themselves to the target. Unfortunately it would be a fair summary to say that none of the bowlers bowled well, the fielding wasn't very good and New Ash Green had very little luck. Add to that High Halstow's batsmen taking advantage very well, none more so than the very young numbers 9 & 10 who batted exceptionally, and a disastrously high total was on the cards. There were some high points - Dan Lewsey taking a good catch close in to take the first wicket, Keith Bushell's special ball producing its customary wicket, Kieron Poole striking with his first ball and going on to take three wickets and John Harley returning to get two of the plumbest LBW's you could ever hope to see - one so out that the batsman gave the umpire a thumbs up as he walked off. These were, though, few and far between as for the most part it was hours of toil in hot sunshine.

After a single off the first ball New Ash Green's reply went downhill when John Howland was run out in the first over unable to decide whether to be aggressive with his running or not. Greame Poole and Tim Cooper didn't last a lot longer, making it 5-3. David Baker came out with all guns blazing, heaving two fours over the top and making 13 before missing another big swing and being bowled for 13. From this point, though, some respect was restored. Dan Lewsey, despite feeling increasingly ill throughout the innings, stayed around while 46 were added, and the change bowling looked much more attackable than the openers. Lewsey eventually succumbed in an over where he had completely stopped moving his feet, but while High Halstow expressed great relief at taking the wicket there was more of a challenge to come. Kieron Poole joined Matthew Quantrill, and once again showed no fear when High Halstow tried to give him the strike, hitting 5 fours on his way to 31. With Quantrill not completely in touch but still scoring fairly steadily they were able to add a season leading 65 for the sixth wicket at a rate which meant that victory was not totally out of their grasp. Eventually, though, Poole perished swinging across the line at the returning Leadbetter and James Porter followed a couple of overs later. With time and partners running out Quantrill tried to force the pace and was caught from a skyed attempt at a heave to cow corner for 57, having been on the field for all but the last two or three balls for the third time in the season. Keith Bushell edged a four but then was bowled swinging the bat and a thoroughly disappointing performance had ended in heavy defeat. With a few more players available this week for the immediate re-match New Ash Green will be hoping for a rather better showing.

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Rainham 243-9 (40 overs)
New Ash Green 158-8 (40 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 85 runs

Once again it seems New Ash Green allowed one batsman to get away from them, a familiar theme on both Saturdays and Sundays this year. This time it was Rainham's number 5, Paul Swaine, who took the game away, making 83 in just 55 balls. Most of the bowlers were expensive, but Ben Cooke conceded just 14 in 5 overs and Dan Lewsey mopped up the tail taking 5-25, also adding two more catches to the three he took on Saturday.

There were a number of moderate contributions with the bat, not least from Lewsey who was second highest scorer with 18, but it was Lee Saunders who dominated the innings, finally making the big score he has been promising to make all season. Coming in at 41-4 he made an unbeaten 81 from 92 balls and ensured that New Ash Green were once again able to bat out the overs and make a respectable score in defeat. There is still some way to go in the rebuilding of the club, but there are soem promising signs for the future if young players continue to develop and the spirit in the club is mainstained.

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