REDLYNCH and Hale Cricket Club picked-up a morale-boosting victory by 112 runs following an emphatic display at fellow strugglers Old Netley and Highfield.

Ian Tanner called correctly and had no hesitation in batting first.

Dave Webber was out of the traps first, racing to 50 in just 40 balls as Tanner accumulated at a less frenetic pace. The pair had posted a stand of 171, before Webber was castled by Luke Charrett for 89. Tanner accelerated and was joined by the big-hitting Glenn Willoughby who smashed 13 fours in 42 balls to finish unbeaten on 72. Tanner was showing all the shots and reached an impressive 100, but agonisingly for him, failed to carry his bat, being caught off the final ball of the innings for 129 having struck 22 fours in a total of 321-2.

Not surprisingly, the hosts seemed to feel the total was perhaps beyond them, so opted to accumulate as many batting points as they could.

Philip Colmer (41) and Ben Slade (62) batted well and Kev Hopkins (3-23) was among the wickets. But it was always going to be an uphill struggle and, with the visitors' bowlers' tails up, Willoughby (2-18) and James Taylor mopped things up with 3-30 as the hosts were all out for 209 in the 38th over.

The seconds also enjoyed success, beating South Wilts fourths by eight wickets at Woodfalls Cross.

Trevor Pitman (34) anchored the innings, but Stan Boardman, who returned 3-12 in his ten overs, including six maidens, accounted for the top three.

Then George Hayes (3-25) joined the action and as the other bowlers all reaped a wicket each, only Harrison Tyler (36) showed any fight as SW were stopped at 141 all out. In reply, Mark Savage struck 12 fours in an impressive 73 as he and Steve Fox (48*) added 126 for the second wicket to put the game beyond the visitors to take the points.

And the club's third team made it three out of three wins, as they enjoyed a 40 run victory over Bournemouth fifths. Colin Eveleigh (53) and Andy Church (43) were the mainstays, as the team reached 197-5 at tea. In reply, the hosts were never up with the run rate. Wickets were hard to find though. Ian Dixon (2-32) and Mick Wright (1-21) tried hard, but Bournemouth opted for dogged resistance, finally reaching 157-4 in the last over.