H&CHCC Lose First League Game at Stowmarket

Stowmarket 152 all out

Rutter 5 for36, D Armstrong 3 for 13,

H&CHCC 108 All Out

W Bryant 34, Richards 22, J Armstrong 18 Not Out.


Hartest & Coldham Hall CC started the league campaign away to Stowmarket on the back of a great win the week before against Exning where a big run chase was achieved which was probably in the mind of Captain William Bryant decision to bat first after winning the toss.

Stowmarket got off to a steady start putting on fifty before Jack Armstrong got opener Blake caught by debutant Archie Fiddes for 27 and the total on 51.

Brett & opener Wright put on another partnership 27 when Hodge got him out with A Watling soon to follow off the bowling of Dave Armstrong leaving the score on 115 for 3 with only 14 overs left when Captain Bryant brought on spinner Nick " Swanee" Rutter for an inspired move as his first over went for 9 he soon found his range taking two wickets in his second over including a drop catch in their as well but he got out the dangerous Wright who had battled his way to 47.

Flight & guile as Rutter spun his way through the tail end with Armstrong supporting and collecting two more wickets of his own.

The only resistance came from Codd who got 26 from some cross batting but Rutter got his first ever five wicket haul when he bowled the last man Holding to end the Stowmarket innings on 152 all out in the 36th over.

Hartest & Coldham took to the pitch after tea in confident mood with a very gettable target with Hodge & Roberts the new opening partnership for this season.

Both openers had close scares including Roberts who had a very large appeal for a caught behind but the home umpire said not out but the following over Hodge tickled one behind down the leg side and trooped discontentedly back to the pavilion.

The man of match for both side was undoubtedly the young Stowmarket bowler D Watling who was quite quick and troubling all the batsmen and Hamish Fiddes was playing himself in when his was the first of three batsmen to depart with the score on 15 to a very fine edge and caught behind then Ben Atkinson was caught in the covers to a very good catch by Haynes again off the bowling of D Watling.

Captain Bryant and Gus Walton put up some resistance with a 45 run partnership the bulk of the runs from Bryant and when Walton played on the score was looking bleak for Hartest & Coldham at 60 for 5.

Peter Richards came in and before he and Bryant could get going Bryant was gone for 34 bowled by Bailey and this brought Dave Armstrong in who faced a few balls but was bowled again by Bailey then his son Jack Armstrong came in to partner Richards.

Thirty three runs were put on between the pair with Peter Richards hitting the first Six of the season and the only one on the day.

Richards holed out to A Watling for a good 22 and this left Jack Armstrong with the tail and a long way from winning the game but his cover drive did bring up the 100 to secure a batting point but when fast bowler D Watling returned it was a matter of time and Rutter with Archie Fiddes last man out the Hartest & Coldham final score was 108 but the damage was done by D Watling who finished with 5 wickets for only 7 runs which included 7 maidens.

H&CHCC can take heart that they did compete but perhaps the Achilles heel is consistent runs to put on the board but after only one league game it is very early days into a new season.

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