After three weeks of sheer frustration, brought on by the wettest May in living memory South Wilts seconds finally got their season underway with a 68 run victory over Paultons at Lower Bemerton.

Batting first after losing the toss Joe Cranch (52), emphasising yet again his value to the team, and Sam Litchfield (50) gave the Salisbury side the ideal start with an opening partnership of 93, laying foundations which were seized upon by the fast emerging George Edwards (37) and skipper Rob Pittman (30) as South Wilts reached a total of 227 for 8 from their 40 allocated overs.

Paultons began their reply in tentative fashion against accurate bowling from openers Nick Partridge and Jayden Atkinson, The first wicket fell when Rob Pittman brought himself into, the attack, accounting for the first three wickets by the time the score had reached 66. Ben Rogers arrival at the wicket saw the visitors move to 104 before 15-year-old Matthew Falconer commenced his spell from the Lower Bemerton end. In his second over Cranch took a fine catch to dismiss Scott Dawes, setting the scene for a memorable third over which saw him produce a hat-trick in the form of a clean bowled, an excellent catch standing up by wicketkeeper Sam Pittman and an lbw. His excellent 5 for 12 was completed in his fourth over following another adjudged leg before wicket taking Paultons score from 104 for 3 to 111 for 8. Watching the carnage unfold around him Rogers was the last man out for a fine 82, giving Rob Pittman his fourth wicket at a cost of 19 runs leaving Paultons 68 short on 159.

This was a particularly satisfying performance, underlining South Wilts excellent youth structure and pathway system, which was on full view with its six-prong bowling attack, comprising, in addition to the precocious Falconer, 16 year old allrounder Ben Howgrave Graham, 17 year old spinner James Brewer and 18 year old Jayden Atkinson, indeed ten of the eleven players on view arrived through the Junior Section of the club.