Claverham CC 1^st XI are once again pleased to be sponsored by Bristol recruitment firm WB Employment.

Reputations count for nothing when teams visit Henley Lane these days and again it showed as 2^nd placed Bridgwater strolled into Yatton only to leave with their tails between then legs!

Recent performances have left local supporters scratching their heads as Clav continue to roll over big name sides, and those same fans were then treated to a video play back in the club house afterwards which was greeted by cheers from the packed bar.

Having elected to bat first, Bridgwater were under pressure to make a large total and they looked well set as some initial wayward bowling let them make a quick start. Last weeks hero Chris Peyper soon stopped the flow by removing Bishop for 8 and then opening partner Roger Hooper found his line to remove the dangerous Read for 24. In a strange innings runs still came quickly but wickets kept falling at such a rate that by the time the classy Michael Coles was settled he was in danger of running out of partners.

As first change bowlers go you can’t get much better in local cricket than Paul Bird and his introduction against the middle to lower order proved decisive as he blew away the remaining Bridgy batsman to finish with another 5 wicket haul. Credit to Rich Coombes too for his first bowl of the season using the conditions perfectly to finish with 1 for 19 from 6 tidy overs.

A highly pumped up Claverham then set about the total but a double disaster struck early with Rich Horton and Paul Bird back in the hutch without scoring. Bridgwater were in full flow and soon removed Devanny, Jack, Copeland and Bartle to leave the home side reeling on 40 for 6. Crucially though South African Peyper and in-form Gillott were at the wicket and the fightback began. Chris batting beautifully kept the scoreboard ticking and his beefy wicket-keeping partner made sure when the bowling strayed he capitalised quickly.

As the target fell below 50 the supporters began to believe again and the visitors looked to be running out of ideas. There was no way of stopping the flow of runs as Peyper serenely moved past 50 and Gillott blasted his way to 50 with a huge six over long on and take the total below 10. The late dismissal of Gillott for an excellent 53 only gave Keith Miles the opportunity to launch a few missiles himself and Clav passed the total with 10 overs remaining. Chris Peyper finished on 86 not out for his highest score of the season and along with his team mates immediately dedicated this latest win to Second XI Player Keith Evans and his family whose Father sadly passed away on Friday evening after a long illness.