Andover II South Newton.

The Seconds got their season up and running with a 30 run victory over South Newton.

Missing a number of regulars including skipper Martin Roberts, Alex Thompson took up the reigns for the day with a side which included debutant 15-year old Finn O’Brien.

Thompson lost the toss and surprisingly was asked to bat on what looked a good batting pitch and put faith in the young Robbie Taylor to open with the hard hitting Sean purchase.

Scoring was slow to start with due to some hostile bowling from one end and tight slow bowling the other. Andover lost Taylor early which brought O'Brien to the crease and he immediately showed why there has been much excitement around the club with everyone keen to see his talent.

O'Brien and Purchase steadily went about accumulating a partnership until Purchase went for a well crafted 43. This brought a mini collapse with Andrew Duckworth and Thompson falling in quick succession. Joe Foy and O'Brien rebuilt steadily until O'Brien was out lbw on 49 agonisingly close to his debut half century.

Andover then lost Will Turner and Foy as they tried to push the score along which brought action man Phil Greening (22) to the crease who immediately along with Dan Turner (13) ran hard and pushed the score along to a competitive 166 all out.

Andover came out he blocks firing with the raw pace of Greening and young Rowan Duckworth the South Newton openers were in for a tough time.

Greening's clean bowled opener Penny and had Lampert caught at slip by O'Brien and backed up by some excellent energetic fielding had South Newton 51-5 at the first drinks break.

Tight bowling from Knight and the spin of O'Brien brought three more wickets before the innings was finished off by the excellent Greening (4-23).