Tipton eased to two comfortable victories at the weekend thanks to some efficient bowling and fielding and patient batting on damp wickets.

Skipper David Birch was surprised to be asked to field by Erratics’ skipper Jonathan Kirby at Dunsford on Saturday, but was delighted when his bowlers produced a match-winning performance, restricting their hosts to 48 all out in 33 overs.

Chris Mason (4-13) and Dave O’Higgins (3-10) did most of the damage after Birch and John Rodgers restricted the openers to 14 runs in the first 10 overs. Only Chave looked comfortable in the conditions but when he fell to Phil Tolley for 16, neatly caught by Robin Pickering at midwicket, the rest of the batting offered little resistance. Tipton’s fielding, despite being one short, was never under pressure and featured three catches for Tolley and a fine run-out for Alec Pace. Pace and Pickering began the reply in positive style, with the former looking assured until he was trapped lbw. Al Matthews struck the first four of the game before he was bowled and Pickering (10) and Tolley (12) negotiated some tricky bowling safely to see Tipton home in the 21st over.

?Batting first at home on Sunday against a nine man Heads and Tails, Tipton built a sound total thanks to Dave Jessop’s watchful 38, which was well supported by 19 each from Keith Collins and John Williamson, before Steve Shaw imposed himself on the bowling with a well struck 46 which took the total to 156-6. Heads and Tails’ reply never got off the ground, as batsman after batsman lost patience and threw their wickets away. The bowling was generally tight, although O’Higgins has bowled far better to reap a lesser reward than his three wickets; Mark Channon chipped in with two and Birch and Phil Wright claimed one each as the visitors subsided to 54 all out. Again Tipton turned in a fine performance in the field with catches for Jessop (2), Shaw and Tolley and a leg side stumping for Dawson.