IN cold and blustery weather, the new cricket season has started, Tim Keighley's young Andover 2nd XI entertained Cove II at London Road last Saturday in their first outing of the season and had a comfortable victory.

Andover were bowled out for 143. They had looked in trouble at 43-6 but an excellent innings from Rob Palmer (49no) and vintage knock from Paul Funnell (37) saw them add 55 for the seventh wicket, and with Steve Simpson and Luke Graham keeping Palmer company, the 15-year-old moved towards his half-century only to be left left stranded on 49 at the end of the innings.

The second half of the match went much better for the town club's second string with Sillie Van der Muwre setting high standards behind the stumps.

Luke Graham (1-17) made the initial breakthough but the introduction of spin turned the match with Martin Docis(3-15) and Steve Williams (5-13) bamboozled the opposition. Rob Palmer took the other wicket to leave Andover winners by 63 runs.

Andover 4th XI the began their season at Langley Manor. Put into bat , it was slow going against accurate home bowling until Rob Oostendorp (93) joined skipper John Baxter in a substantial stand.

Baser eventually sacrificed his wicket in order to watch the Rugby League Cup Final between Wigan and St Helens but Tim Brown kept the runs flowing with a quick-fired 64 which, unfortunately, was not acknowledge by the team as all the other Andover players had joined their skipper to cheer on Wigan.. Andover then rationed their bowlers to just four overs each in a attempt to get every one into the game and pretty soon Langley Manor were well and truly in the doldrums. Finally, with six wickets down and just 50 runs on the board the rain came, and every one went home. And Wigan also won.

Andover Sunday 3rd XI were somewhat depleted for their trip to Crown Wood but still managed to record a 22-run victory thanks to a maiden unbeaten half century from 19-year-old Peter Wright.

Wright held the innnings together as Andover totalled 117 all out. Going in at the fall ofthe third wicket, Wright finished unbeaten on 63 and struck 11 fours.

Crown Wood also hit the ball hard but Mike Adams (4-8) capitalised on their lack of defensive technique but from 89-4 they collapsed in dramataic fashion with the last five wickets falling for just six runs. Newcomer Stuart Robertson, although wicketless, also bowled an impressive spell.