A third successive Saturday hat-trick was always going to be a tall order with both the Seconds and Thirds taking on the league leaders.
The First XI, though, kept their promotion charge very much alive with an excellent 67-run victory over Herriard. Nathan Scarff led the way with a magnificent century in what was a hard-fought contest. Oakley controlled much of the game, but credit to Herriard who kept scrapping and remained in the game until until the closing stages.
The Second XI gave Herriard’s second string a proper game but perhaps just fell 20 or 30 runs short of what was needed to apply real scoreboard pressure. George Lethaby’s half-century was backed up by a superb unbeaten stand between youngsters Joby Beatty (47*) and Archie Taylor (25*), which bodes well for the future.
The Third XI also gave unbeaten Holybourne a real examination. Another 30 runs on the board and there might well have been an upset on the cards, but 161 always felt just a fraction light on a good batting surface.
So it was one win from three, but if there was only going to be one, it had to be the First XI as they continue their push for promotion. Just as importantly, the performances from the Seconds and Thirds showed we have players ready to step up whenever injuries, holidays or availability start to bite.
At the start of the season our aim was simple: get the First XI into the promotion mix while building a strong club squad capable of supporting them.
With a quarter of the season to go, we’re pretty much where we wanted to be.