Leg Trappers 153-7

Flatts 154-5

Former Commercial Leaguers IFP Leg Trappers got a taste of what stronger opposition is all about on Saturday when Flatts beat them by five wickets in their First Division season opener at Sea Breeze Oval.

Batting first in a game reduced to 46 overs because of the late arrival of the lone umpire, Leg Trappers had the majority of their batsmen reaching double figures but their modest score of 153 proved insufficient.

Skipper Graham Strange was the top scorer with 32 while David Outtrim followed with 21, James Broadbent 20 not out and openers Gary Knight and David Hosier hit 15 apiece.

Chris Caisey led Flatts in bowling with two for 29 off eight overs while Lloyd Fray and Derek Wright each had two for 35 off nine overs.

Flatts reached their winning target without much difficulty, thanks to Fray who was the top scorer with 34 not out. Also among the runs were Phillip Burgess, 32; Vernon Eve, 22; Wright, 20, and Quinn Outerbridge 19. Outtrim took two for 15 off seven overs while Marc Wetherhill claimed two for 47 off eight overs.

Leg Trappers 185 Police 155 (Yesterday)

Champions of the Commercial League a year ago, Leg Trappers proved they can be a force to be reckoned with in the First Division this season by defeating Police by 30 runs yesterday.

The triumph at Police field followed Trappers' five-wicket defeat against Flatts in their season opener on Saturday. This time they were better prepared against their opponents who paid the penalty for fielding ten players.

Chris Fleming struck a brisk 57 and skipper Graham Strange contributed 45 to spearhead Trappers' batting and steer them towards what proved to be a game-winning total. Neil Carroll added 22, Damion Henderson 20 and John Birch 11.

Dennis Archer was the pick of the Police bowling attack with three wickets for 19 runs off nine overs while Ken Pitcher took two for 22 off 8.4 overs and Nyon Steede two for 44 off nine overs.

Archer also impressed with the bat by scoring 54 to lead Police in this department as well while opener Terry Thomas followed with 28 and fellow opener Andrew Rollins hit 14.

Former county player with English club Somerset, Jonathon Atkinson who was earlier dismissed for a duck, had better luck with his bowling. He had a haul of four wickets for 28 runs off 10 overs, including three maidens while Luke O'Connor claimed three for 33 off nine overs with a maiden.

Two other games scheduled were not played because the fields were not prepared. Devonshire Rec. were to play Flatts at Devonshire while Somerset Bridge were to take on Social Club at White Hill.

Somerset Bridge 123

Police 126-4

Freston Hurdle and Jodi Maroni combined to take seven wickets and lead Police to a six-wicket victory over Somerset Bridge at Police field on Saturday.

Hurdle finished with four for 20 and Maroni had three for 29; the duo limiting the Bridge batting with only Nakie Smith and Clifford Simmons offering any resistance. Smith finished with 45 while Simmons scored 21.

Police coasted to victory with fine contributions from John Pitcher, 27 not out; Andrew Rollins, 25; Rashan Perera 21 not out and Nion Steede 20. No Bridge bowler managed more than one wicket.

Warwick 88

Bailey's Bay 89-4

Favourites for a quick return to the top division, Bailey's Bay opened their season with a comfortable six-wicket victory at Sea Breeze Oval yesterday.

Warwick, with some of the most promising youngsters in the division, could only manage 88 in just 31 overs with tailender D.Dookie (29 not out) and opening bat Dion Stovell (16) the only two players in double figures.

Jermaine Outerbridge was the pick of the Bay bowlers with four for 27 from 10 overs while Dennis Pilgrim claimed two for 13 off six.

In between the rain, Jermaine Warner led Bay's victory chase with 31 before Cal Dill scored 22 not out and David Lovell 14 not out after sharing in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 46 which enabled the team to recover from 43-4 following a three wicket burst by Warwick. Lamar Caines took two for 24.