A fine performance enabled Woodmansterne to overturn promotion placed Deando Ruxley in the Fuller's County League Division Two

Put into bat, they lost Pryor early and the pace and unnecessarily short-pitched bowling of Bester caused problems, particularly for Ronak Patel who had to leave the field having been hit on the wrist. Conway and Knight made fluent contributions, but a bruised Patel was finally removed by Bester along with Hicks and Anderson.

That left the score at 124-7, but Vagg hit some lusty blows off spinner Mahmood to make 38, before Mahmood took revenge in the final over as Woods declared on 183-8.

Woods opened with the spin of Wortley and swing of Anderson and it reaped early dividends as the visitors were reduced to 15-3.

Following a comical run-out, Deando rebuilt with a 50 run partnership before Anderson bounced out Bester and Serfontein was given out caught behind off Neil Patel thanks to some excellent umpiring after the latter opted not to walk.

Wickets followed briskly as Wortley (4-36) and Anderson (4-46) reasserted their partnership to bowl Deando out for 127, including stunning catches from Vagg (one of four for him) and Knight.

Woods are on a roll now, knowing that but for the weather at Old Tiffs they would have recorded a run of three consecutive wins.

THE seconds made a mockery of league positions as they swept aside Merrow in a one-sided away victory in Division One.

Winning the toss, Woods inserted Merrow, and soon made inroads as Paul Movel and Guy Chamberlayne each claimed early wickets. The batsmen had no answer to the crafty bowling of Movel, and the consistent swing movement of Chamberlayne.

They were supported by some excellent wicket keeping and fielding, culminating in a superb catch by James Ingram off Chamberlayne, to dismiss Merrow's skipper, who briefly threatened some resistance.

Chamberlayne finished with figures of 4-38, while Movel bagged 5-27, claiming the last wicket.

Ralph Patel also grabbed a wicket as Woods bowled Merrow out for just 80.

Opener Mickey Joyce was bowled for a rare duck in the first over of Woods reply, but it was merely a blip in an otherwise perfect day for Woods, as skipper Hiren Patel (48no) and Matt Joyce (29no) helped Woods to an easy nine wicket victory.

FOR their third league game in a row, the thirds had to travel to near the Surrey Hampshire border, this time to play Woking & Horsell. Woodmansterne won the toss and elected to field.

The bowling was opened as usual with Ted Giles and George Sims and although the hosts started steadily, they found it difficult to score off some tight bowling from Woodmansterne and soon lost early wickets.

After 10 overs George Sims (5-3-10-1) was replaced by Steve Scott and Woking & Horsell were soon in trouble at 34-5.

At this stage Woodmansterne were well on top. Shortly after there was a pivotal moment in the game when, as George Sims caught the Woking number four batsman, he was taken out, superbly, by Rory Hazell the Woodmansterne wicketkeeper and the ball was spilled.

From that moment on, Woking & Horsell took command and by the end of 52 overs, despite several changes in bowling, they reached 199-7, with the Woking number four making 80 not out.

Pick of the bowlers were Steve Scott (9-3-23-2), Ted Giles (15-2-45-2) and Evan Whyte (7-1-23-0)

After tea the Woodmansterne innings was opened by Ian and Chris Munday, but they lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bowled out for 92.

The only players to reach double figures were Josh Meadowcroft (21), Steve Scott (13no) and James Bull (11).