On a bright and breezy Saturday at London Road, the annual club match took place with mixed sides from a combination of 1st, 2nd and 3rd XIs all battling it out for a place at the summit of the club. Captain Mike Adams skippered one side while new II XI captain Harry Blackburn took the other XI. Blackburn started his summer well by winning the toss and electing to bat first on a hard and fast Andover track.

Experienced duo Ali Hooper and Glyn Treagus put opening bowlers Adams and Darron Augustus to the sword with Hooper particularly brutal on anything too full clearing the ropes twice over point. The skipper realised it was a day to take the pace off the ball and introduced Dylan Augustus and Matt Hooper, which saw an immediate impact. Treagus was the first to go as he charged the dangerous Hooper for his 30 he having played a key part in a 100 plus opening stand.

Blackburn joined Ali Hooper and Robbie Taylor was introduced into the attack and he soon hit his stride with his in-swinging medium pacers. Hooper struggled against his twin brother Matt as the wily off-spinner gave him nothing to hit and after a couple of close misses, he finally got his man hit wicket for 78.

Hooper finished with 2-20 off his ten overs but Blackburn started to move through the gears and played some delightful drives to bring up a well-deserved half century. With the powerful Taylor at the other end, the batting side were heading towards a large total but the reintroduction of paceman Darron Augustus curtailed any big hitting at the death as he snared Taylor and Dave Webb in quick succession. Ryan Ward and Hamish Morton flayed some boundaries in the final overs before succumbing to Max Souter and the batting side ended on an above average 222-6.

The run chase started well as Andy Sale and Darron Augustus were quick to pounce on anything wide. Opening bowler Taylor reaped the rewards of an immaculate line and length by taking the scalps of both openers in his final over, although the pair had put on 40 together. Matt Hooper and young prodigy Will Arnold then went about rebuilding the innings and the stylish pair rotated the strike with ease and punished anything loose as they took the batting side towards three figures. Aidan Jansen and chairman Phil Knight were brought into the attack, which spelled the end for Arnold who was stumped off Knight thanks to the fine glovework from his son Knight behind the stumps.

Matt Knight carried on where Arnold left off, partnering Hooper for a 100 run partnership to get the batting side within touching distance of their target. Needing just 20 off the final ten overs, there was a minor wobble losing Knight and Hooper thanks to the clever off spin bowling from Webb, however, Dylan Augustus and Robbie Taylor guided them over the line for a richly deserved victory.