Vauxhall Mallards made the first of their longer away trips in the East Anglian Premier League on Saturday when they travelled to mid-table Copdock and Ipswichian.

The team, which remained unchanged from the previous week, were looking for a more definitive result after a recent number of draws, but ended up losing the game by 108 runs.

Mallards won the toss and put Copdock in to bat, but with the awareness of the strength and track record of the opening pair Martin Cull and Jaik Mickleburgh.

Adam Todd got the first advantage though with his first ball when he bowled Cull for a duck in the second over. Paul Bradshaw bowled at the other end with his dependable accuracy and consistency and had Sam Webb-Snowling trapped lbw in his third over.

Copdock were 16-2 but played through the next overs with focus to steady the innings. Mickleburgh and Jack Beaumont put on 87 for the third wicket before Mitchell Todd had Beaumont and then Stuart Ward caught by Luke Caswell in the middle overs of the innings but the second solid partnership for the home side ensured they never lost advantage.

Mickleburgh and captain Tom Rash (86) put on 187 and Copdock batted through 64 overs to reach 305-5. Former Essex player Mickleburgh carried his bat and finished on 123 not out.

Vauxhall Mallards started with good momentum but suffered the loss of four wickets in five overs around the tea break which put the pressure on the lower order batsmen to keep them in the game. Top scorer Matthew Plater was caught off the bowling of Croft for 55 which left Mallards on 89-5 after 28 overs.

Luke Caswell (32), Connor Green (25) and Brett Stolworthy (31) all made useful runs but it was not enough for the visitors to get near their target.

Beaumont bowled out his 18 overs in two spells to restrict Mallards and he took five wickets for 46. Mallards needed to bat out to come away with draw but lost their last wicket at 197 to concede defeat to Copdock.

Mallards welcome Frinton to Halvergate on tomorrow (11pm).

Carl Amos scored an unbeaten 101 as Vauxhall Mallards A (267-2) beat Stow (228 all out) by 39 runs in Norfolk Alliance Division One. They visit Norwich A tomorrow (1pm).