CHRIS FOGGO and OJ Pitcher were given a baptism by fire this week, albeit more than a month into the new season. Pyrford, after a chastening eight-wicket defeat in the Sovereign Cup second round on Tuesday, have now a full appraisal of the task of gaining promotion to the Surrey Championship, as their conquerors were none other than Kingstonian, joint top of the Surrey County League.

Kingstonian pulled a rabbit out of the hat in unleashing Aamir Nazir, the former Pakistan bowler, whose record haul of 85 wickets led Ashtead to promotion from the Surrey Championship third division last season. Nazir's contract was not extended and Kingstonian moved quickly to secure his services. Four wickets against Pyrford, however, serve to show an early return on investment, with the Bermuda pair glad to have had the experience but awaiting anxiously their rematch in what could prove to be a decisive league encounter on August 17.

Foggo survived the opening onslaught from Nazir before he was out for five but Pitcher made a team-high 31 as Pyrford were skittled out for 90. There were few hiccups for Kingstonian who will play the winners of the Long Ditton-Leatherhead tie in the quarter-finals.

"They were a good side," Pitcher acknowledged. "There was a bit of uneven bounce in the wicket but we'll be looking forward to seeing them and Nazir again in August."

It was not all gloom and doom for Pyrford on the long Bank Holiday weekend as, on Saturday, they maintained a 100 percent record in the league with a 35-run win away to Old Walcountians. Pyrford were made to toil in sticky conditions, reaching 173 for nine declared in 55 overs. The home side, relegated from the Surrey Championship last season, proved difficult to dislodge before Pyrford prevailed inside the last five of the 20 overs at the close. Foggo made 26.

The prospects of Atherstone Town in the Warwickshire Cricket League remained promising after they emerged from matches against two of the top teams in the league with a winning draw and a close-run loss. But there was a price to be paid as Ryan Steede, one of two Bermudians there, pulled up on Monday and faces a race against time to be ready for the weekend.

Any extended loss of Steede, coupled with the continued injury problems of Noel Gibbons, would leave Atherstone with a testing period as they look to make up ground on the top two. Gibbons retired hurt after scoring eight on Saturday. The veteran all-rounder is complaining of a back problem that has prevented him from bowling since he arrived as player-coach in May.

Steede, who said that he felt a twinge during his second spell against Olton & West Warwicks on Saturday, suffered a thigh injury in the defeat against Coleshill, their local rivals, on Monday. "It is not so bad," he said. "I hope I can be fit for our midweek game (last night) but at worst I want to be back in time for Saturday."

Atherstone carried the challenge to Olton after being asked to bat, and made 194 for eight after their allotted 50 overs. Steede made nine at No 6 to continue his struggles with the bat but it is with the ball is his hand that the Ratcliffe Road faithful most treasure his input. The lanky medium-pacer claimed one for 63 in 16 overs but was showing signs of struggling toward the end of an 11-over opening spell. Olton gave up the chase after losing early wickets and were 130 for six at stumps.

The holiday match, limited to 37 overs a side because of rain, was a dandy with Atherstone making 190 for three. But Coleshill hit back smartly and won the match with eight balls to spare. But it might have been different had not the new league leaders' opening bat been dropped on eight - he went on to score 91 not out.

"They (Coleshill) had three or four Asian players," Gibbons said. "One of them was really good. That was only our first loss and I told the guys afterwards that no team is going to go through the season unbeaten. We might as well get ours out of the way now."

Atherstone should get back on track tomorrow, at home to Berkswell, who are third from bottom, but on June 15 they are away to the team immediate above them in third, Dorridge, and there is a 15-point gap to redress having played one match more.

Back here in London, or was it Wellington Oval, I was involved in two crackers. A one-run victory in the league over Chertsey recalled some of my early days at St. George's where we became adroit at defending low totals. On this occasion we were bundled out for 115. On a decent track it was the worst batting performance by Southern Railway since I joined the club last year. But, after Chertsey were well placed at 70 for two in response, the fightback was tremendous and fifth place feels pretty good when compared with what might have been.

The effort carried into Monday in the Sovereign Cup against Wallington but, sadly, the shoe was on the other foot as we were beaten by one wicket on the final ball. Full credit to their Pakistani overseas player but we felt we had won the match twice over, but for some shocking officiating by an umpire who I discovered was the opposing team's club president.

Twice in the penultimate over we thought we had dismissed their No 11 - first caught behind when the wicketkeeper held a blatantly thick edge, and then leg-before from a full toss that would not have missed centre stump by more than an inch. The guys were gutted but, thankfully, the standard is much better in the league, which is one of the many benefits of being in the Surrey Championship.

Oh, almost forgot. Run for me? No chance: out leg-before for eight on Saturday to one that started outside leg and took an inside edge. Then bowled off an inside edge for 12 on Monday. It can only get better.