Tipton ended up on the losing side in two hard-fought encounters with long standing touring sides over the weekend, writes David Birch.

For Saturday’s match against Wiltshire tourists, Swindon United Churches, captain Jim Bugler elected to bat, but sadly, not very well at the start as Tipton were soon 27-4. Phil Tolley was run out by partner Robin Pickering and was quickly followed by Dave Dawson, Alec Pace and Al Matthews.

Pickering was clearly reluctant to return to the pavilion to face Tolley as he batted for 108 minutes for a patient 20. His partnership with Bugler of 95 did however help recover the innings. Bugler scored 62 in even time before being caught. With 10 overs to go the score looked woefully inadequate, but a partnership between John Rodgers and Mark Channon took the total to a defendable 163.

Channon continued his good work with the ball, taking 4-13 off 8 overs. Aided by three excellent catches from Bugler and two from Pace, it looked as though victory was in sight for Tipton with the visitors struggling at 48-6. However, assisted by two dropped catches batsmen seven, eight and nine all made 30s and passed Tipton’s total with 9 balls left.

Monday’s match against Southgate Compton was threatened by weather so it was agreed to curtail it to 30 overs a side with tea to follow. Southgate batted first and were

kept in check by a tidy opening spell from the only available seamers, skipper David Birch and Phil Tolley. The visitors recovered from 7-2 to post a highly challenging 173-7, partly thanks to the lack of variety in the Tipton attack on a good wicket and an increasing uncertainty in the field.

However, Tipton’s top order made a real fight of it, coming to within 15 runs of their target thanks to another 50 from Tolley and battling 30s from Matt Williamson and Adam Gibbins. 158-4 was a great effort in the circumstances and at least a result was achieved in threatening conditions: as the players went off for tea, the decision to shorten the match was vindicated by the onset of heavy rain.