Youthful Seconds in first-class form to top league table
THE Warwickshire second team enjoyed a superb weekend in the County Championship matches at the Westfield club in Wellingborough.
James Ward, Ryan Lines, Lee Dorning, Charlotte Spencer and Olivia Fletcher formed one of the youngest ever teams for the Bears at this level, with an average age of just 23, as they won all their three matches.
It included an 8-2 thumping of arch rivals Worcestershire who included the highly-rated trio of Jason Thompson, Steve Horton and Hawley Ellicott.
Fletcher and Spencer starred in the hard-fought 6-4 success over Staffordshire, with both players having singles wins over Georgia Harris and Amillia Baker.
There was also a comfortable 7-3 success over hosts Northamptonshire, with both Ward and Fletcher unbeaten.
It was a real team effort by the Warwickshire squad, with Ward, Fletcher and Spencer all winning five out of six matches and Lines and Dorning 3/6.
The Bears sit proudly at the top of the table following the first weekend of matches, with Yorkshire, Durham and Leicestershire II still to play on January 11/12. Chinese star Yu Ling and Ian Ferguson should also be available for the second weekend, with unbeaten Leics likely to be the strongest opponents. ■ Alex Boyd produced perfect performances for both Stratford A and B as they both recorded 8-2 victories JLM League. Kingfishers over Blazing in the Paddles Stratford and Kevin Taylor was also unbeaten for the B side. Snitterfield beat Ashorne in another match that finished 8-2, as John Price and Clive Irwin chalked up trebles. Henley and Shottery B drew 5-5, with only unbeaten Shottery’s player. Grant Hepworth the The Colebridge Bulldogs trio of Andy Rowland, John Swinburne and Chris Welsh whitewashed Veterans, while Colebridge Pasties maintained their title challenge with a 9-1 victory over Tanworth Taipans, with Rod Lewis and Bernard Oliver still unbeaten for the season.