Tipton enjoyed a weekend of mixed fortunes, beating Geriatrics by six wickets on Saturday and losing out in a low scoring game at Woodbury on Sunday, writes David Birch.

On a bright and breezy afternoon, Geriatrics were asked to bat first and reached 80 without loss at the drinks break.

Some scruffy fielding contributed to Tipton’s plight with most fielders contributing with a dropped catch during the innings. It was the hobbling Phil Wright who broke the deadlock in the 21st over having Evans stumped by Dave Dawson for 44. Then wickets fell to debutant Ollie Coates and Wright again, before David O’Higgins, on the eve of his 77th birthday bagged a brace including another Dawson stumping. Jim Bugler chipped in with a leg before decision, but some lusty blows from the Geriatric tail kept the score moving. At last Tipton held onto a boundary catch when Robin Pickering clung onto a lofty blow from Matt Hawkes off Mark Channon. Geriatrics closed on 196-9.

Phil Tolley lost fellow opener Kevin McMeeking with only four on the board. Coates showed he could also bat with 23 in a partnership worth 92 for the second wicket before he played on to his stumps. That heralded two more quick wickets, Jem Gillham and Robin Pickering both falling to top edge catches.

Enter captain of the day, Jim Bugler, who, with Tolley, repaired the damage, and, with an unbroken 96 partnership, took Tipton to victory with 17 balls to spare. Tolley finished unbeaten on 120 and now has 11,000 runs in seven seasons to date with the club. Jim Bugler was the other not out batsman at the close on 31.

On paper, Tipton’s batting line up on Sunday at Woodbury looked strong, but no one established themselves in the face of some accurate home bowling. Dave Dawson top scored with 24 in a face saving partnership of 32 with skipper David Birch which took Tipton into three figures.

Nonetheless 109 nearly proved enough as wickets fell regularly following a searching opening spell from Joe Birch and Ollie Coates who claimed a wicket apiece. O’Higgins with two wickets, Birch senior and Wright with one each all added to the pressure but Woodbury held firm to eventually win by three wickets.