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Vertex swept away

4/ 5/2005

ROYTONIANS earned their first Manchester league win on Saturday in a rain-affected match at Didsbury-based Vertex.

Put in to bat by their opponents, the Royton side got off to a flying start as opener Paul Carr top-scored with 40.

After a middle-order collapse, a late flourish from Matty Hall (13) and Shaun Kenworthy (10) helped them finish on a respectable 99-9 off 27 overs in the time allocated by the umpires.

If the 10th wicket had fallen, Vertex would have had an agreed 32 overs to chase the score as opposed to an equal 27.

Vertex also got off to a good start but superior fielding and tighter bowling gave Roytonians the edge as Vertex fell eight runs short with 1.3 overs remaining.

Carr, who won the second division's all rounder award last year, finished with fine figures of 2-22 off 8 overs, while Steve Webb's nagging line and length earned him 4-14 from 4.3 overs.

Debutant Ian Hulme took a wicket and a fine catch in covers, while skipper Russ Billing took two catches and a stumping.

Roytonians host Bolton-based Azad on Saturday, wickets pitched at 2pm.