WINTERTON’S Norfolk Alliance Division Five team were looking to maintain their solid start to the season in their first trip of the season, to Rocklands. However, they lost by 39 runs.

The home side decided to bat on a hard wicket and got off to a flyer thanks to some wayward bowling and poor fielding. When the first wicket fell in the 11th over the score was already on 80.

Richie Larner and Kevin Percival started to drag things back for the Tonnies, but wickets were still hard to come by. However when opening batsman Simon Mann was caught at long off for 97, a further two wickets followed soon after leaving Rocklands on 180-4 with seven overs remaining.

The home side’s captain was still at the crease and looking increasingly dangerous. Lusty blows helped him to 82 not out and his side to 239-5 from their 46 overs. But Winterton were pleased with their efforts after their poor start.

It could have been a different story had Mann not been dropped before scoring and on 12, but the two difficult chances were spurned and Winterton were left wondering ‘what if’.

Percival (12-0-45-2) and Larner (12-1-48-1) were backed up by Josh Austin who claimed 1-31 from nine overs.

Winterton’s batsmen were confident off chasing down their target on the good wicket, but their confidence took a serious knock when they found themselves on 31-3 in the 12th over.

Martin Witheridge (51) and Keith Drewitt (28) decided to take the attack to the opposition and were particularly aggressive down the ground with a number of sixes in their partnership of 72 in 12 overs.

Both batsmen fell in quick succession but the lower order continued to attack through Fred Playford (21) and Ben Utting (21).

However, regular wickets falling meant it was left to the tail to attempt to hang on for the draw and claim what batting points the could.

It looked as if Winterton were going to achieve a losing draw but two wickets in the final two overs and they left with seven points for their 200 all out with Danny Snowling (24) and Kevin Percival (16 not out) attempting to eat up the overs.

The home side can thank Richard Smith (6-37) and Steve Carr (3-42) for their efforts with the ball.

Winterton will be looking to get straight back to winning ways with a home game against Swardeston/CEYMS tomorrow. The visitors have had a promising start to the season.

Rocklands: S Mann c Fornear b Percival 97, J Noonan b Larner 14, W Defoe not out 82, M Walker lbw Percival 7, J Hawkins b Austin 4, T Bart run out 14, L Abel not out 1, extras 20. Total (46 overs) 239-5.

Bowling: R Reeder 2-0-24-0, B Utting 4-0-28-0, R Larner 12-1-48-1, D Snowling 4-0-31-0, K Percival 12-0-45-2, J Austin 9-0-31-1, J Fornear 3-0-28-0.

Winterton: B Clarke b Smith 8, J Austin c Mann b Carr 20, J Fornear b Carr 1, M Witheridge b Smith 51, K Drewitt b Smith 28, F Playford b Smith 21, B Utting c Bart b Smith 21, R Reeder b Smith 6, K Percival not out 16, D Snowling c Dodson b Pearce 24, R Larner c Mann b Carr 0; extras 4. Total (45.4 overs) 200.

Bowling: S Carr 10.4-3-42-3, L Dodson 8-2-38-0, R Smith 12-1-37-6, S Pearce 10-0-49-1, L Abel 4-0-19-0, S Mann 1-0-12-0.