Newton were looking to maintain their unbeaten start against a Plymtree side who inflicted a heavy defeat against their hosts last year.

Newton were looking to maintain their unbeaten start against a Plymtree side who inflicted a heavy defeat against their hosts last year.Skipper Clay won a toss at last and inserted the visitors on a typical early-season wicket that would provide unpredictable bounce to trouble any batsman.With Isaac Thomas making his Sunday debut for the club, another strong bowling display was envisaged and Clay stuck with the usual pairing of Ed Thomas and Matt Raistrick to open for Newton.Some uncharacteristically wayward bowling by Ed Thomas was corrected by the encouragement of son Isaac and this proved crucial as he went on to claim 2-15 in his spell, helped by a smart catch from Burton. Matt Raistrick deserved more for his efforts, especially a good shout for a caught behind but ended up wicket-less again.Tom Chaplin and Alex Raistrick both used the conditions well, beating the bat on numerous occasions but it was the former who profited most with 2-12, which included a one-handed catch by the surprisingly agile Marsh. Alex chipped in with a wicket after a deft fielding change saw Ed Thomas snaffle a simple catch.Plymtree were five down and, needing to accelerate quickly, they hit out at Isaac Thomas, but he quickly found his rhythm and produced a gem of a delivery to bowl the dangerous Bannister for 32. The canny young Thomas then forced a simple caught and bowled and would have finished with more than his 2-23 if it wasn't for Marsh at the other end. Catches for Coombs and Goldthorpe helped Marsh to figures of 3-4 and Plymtree were all-out for 109.After another feast, Newton changed the usual batting line-up with Coombs dropping down to allow Alex Raistrick to open with Last. This didn`t change much as both Alex (2) and Last (7) were deceived in the flight and both succumbed leg before.Tom Chaplin rode his luck early on but Coombs (5) didn't. As Chaplin now had his eye in, Clay was content to let him do the work and they gradually ate into the Plymtree total. Chaplin claimed the man-of-the-match award when he passed his 50 and took Newton over the winning line with two huge sixes to finish 64 not out, ably supported by Clay 22 not out and Newton's unbeaten start continues with a seven-wicket win.