COLLINGBOURNE Cricket Club paid tribute to player Matthew Hatfield during their game against White Horse on Saturday, following his death in a military training exercise last week.

Players on both sides observed a minute’s silence prior to Saturday’s game while Collingbourne players wore black arm bands in memory of the serviceman and former club star.

Corporal Hatfield was one of two soldiers from the Royal Tank Regiment who died following an incident in Pembrokeshire last Wednesday.

According to the club, the 27-yearold had been part of the youth team since 11 and had returned to the club this year after moving back to the area.

He played his last game for the club in May.

After paying tribute to Corporal Hatfield, Collingbourne won the toss and captain David Malley elected to bat.

A slow start and a few early wickets soon checked the away side’s progress, and after 16 overs found themselves 33 for 5 with only Andy Holman (13) and Jacob Marsh (12) making it into double figures.

Collingbourne’s luck changed however when Dan Walker joined Owen Sheppard at the crease.

From the next 27 overs, the pair put on the club’s highest partnership of the season so far (118) before Sheppard was caught for 56.

Some big hitting in the final few overs – especially from Jarrod Price (19) – meant Collingbourne finished on 175 for 7 from their 45 overs.

Walker finished with an unbeaten and impressive 54.

Jarrod Price and Dan Walker (7-1- 26-0) opened the bowling for Collingbourne as the White Horse reply began positively. Openers David Jordan and Oliver Rose found the boundary rope regularly in the first 12 overs (53 for 0).

A change of bowling for the away side managed to slow the run rate a little, but it wasn’t until the dismissal of Rose for 49 in the twentieth over did Collingbourne attempt to wrestle the initiative from the home side.

The opening partnership of 88 was brought to an end with a superb one-handed catch from Aaron Hitchmough off his own bowling (5-0-26-1).

This sparked the push from Collingbourne, which included and excellent yorker from Price (9-0-38- 1) to dismiss Jordan for 40.

Two further wickets from the bowling of John Baxter (5-1-18-2) and some tidy overs from Sheppard (9-0-32-0) ensured that Collingbourne were not going to allow White Horse to canter home.

Jacob Marsh (6.4-0-28-0) bowled well to slow the home side’s progress, but the introduction of Tristan Norman for White Horse proved pivotal.

His boundary-hitting in the closing stages removed any faint hopes the away side had of grabbing an unlikely victory.

White Horse eventually crossed the line in the 42nd over.

Collingbourne host Chippenham II on Saturday.