It's a hoot as Scoot breaks his duck!

This was de ja vu gone wrong, thankfully. When you are coming off the back of a military grade botty smacking and again find yourself 11 for 3 in the early stages with the ball doing plenty you might be forgiven for thinking it might be another early afternoon. But not today .

The crisis point was reached when Mike Hextall was castled very early on to a ball that led to a nod of appreciation before he marched off. Crisis that he was out so early leaving Fleckney 3 down but also so early he had to wait for his umpiring stint. To fill the time he trudged around the boundary like a kid whose batteries had run out on his Dickie Bird action figure until being summoned again to the middle with right index figure twitching.

Four balls later Fleckney had doubled their score as Mandeep launched the counter attack with typical bravado. His average creeping back like his beard. A breezy 25 started the road back to respectability.

For every Cavalier there must be a Roundhead. For every Waldorf a Statler and every Mandeep a Mike Dunkley. Mike accumulated in time honoured fashion, slightly perplexed that the applause for his 50 didn't come when the Dunkley computer expected it but his 79* was the backbone of the innings that closed on 150 after 35 overs.

If Stoneygate got off to a flyer with the ball Fleckney matched it but there is one major disappointment and it needs addressing. The club are rightly proud of the young cricketers they are bringing through but Fergus Weir truly let the side down when taking 3 wickets in 4 balls thus avoiding a jug at his Dad's expense and then avoided a beer buying five for by only taking 4 with his beautiful swing bowling. Poor Ferg, very very poor....

During the wicket taking spree Will Bale was performing heroics in the deep with not one but three grabs at Midwicket, the last sparked a minor controversy but also a quality piece of Sportsmanship.

Seth bowled one that may, or may not, have bounced twice. Will took the catch and despite the batter being a clear obstacle to Fleckney victory hopes was called back with the skipper saying that he wouldn't seek a wicket under such circumstances. It was good to see and we are proud of you Scoot..

Each wicket brought success closer but even the Stoneygate 10 and 11 had scored 50's against us previously. It wasn't in the bag yet. The only thing that was probably in the bag though was an oxygen mask for Andy Loomes who was uncharacteristically trundling uphill.

The coup de grace was applied by Sam Hill who took the final wicket by searing one into middle stump to see Fleckney home by 28 runs. A fine recovery from the previous week and a sticky start.

This Roving Reporter had previously sang the praises of Stoneygate and the same is true again. Good people, lovely club and kindred spirits. See you later on the season.

So now onto next week and it's a Derby against near neighbours Great Glen. What a time time alive.....

Catch you later Roving fans!