ALNWICK II on Saturday completed back-to-back victories, but in a low scoring struggle were made to fight very inch of the way by a determined Chopwell team.

Having won the toss, Alnwick elected to bowl on a rain-affected wicket. Guy and Scott then made life difficult for the Chopwell openers, who never-the-less rode their luck to put on 22 precious runs before Brown lost patience and holed out to Bateman off Guy.

Scott was as mean as usual, conceding just a run an over from his opening five over spell.

Roxburgh, demonstrating his customary persistence and accuracy, Graham bowling with pace and control. Woods, nagging away outside the off stump and Kelly bowling two economical overs, kept the visitors on the defensive with only a few aggressive blows from Owens temporarily breaking the deadlock.

In what turned out to be a decisive spell of play, Alnwick backing their bowlers with tight fielding, conceded no runs in the last four overs. Guy and Graham, the two Gs, bowled with intelligence and know-how in this final phase.

With the wicket becoming even more lively, a winning total of 104 was always going to be tricky.

Eeles and Armin dug in to put on 27, and once Armin had gone Jacques helped move the total to near the half way mark, but by now the unpredictable bounce, allied with some accurate Chopwell bowling, was during up the run rate.

Jenkins and Bateman temporarily tipped the balance Alnwick's way again with some positive strokes, but a mini collapse left the home side with five to win with only two wickets remaining.

It was then that Guy and Graham making use of the experience gained from having batted further up the order, completed fine individual performances by calmly guiding their side home.

This was a very difficult kind of win from last week's run fest at Longhirst, but it was just as satisfying since it came as a result of an all round team effort and collective determination in the face of difficult playing conditions.
Div B2: Alnwick II v Chopwell II
Chopwell
Brown c Batmean b Guy 18
C Fellows c Jacques b Roxburgh 5
J Meadows c Eeles b Woods 16
Moody b Graham 5
L Haney c Woods b Kelly 14
D Owens b Scott 23
P Collingwood b Graham 15
I Graham c Roxburgh b Scott 3
P Owen c Armin b Scott 0
Purvis not out 0
Stephenson b Graham 0
Extras 4
Total 103

Bowling: J Guy 10-3-28-1; A Scott 10-5-20-3; M Roxburgh 8-2-16-1; P Graham 7-3-10-3; C Woods 3-0-9-1; C Kelly 2-0-6-1.
Alnwick
J Eeles c Fellows b Moody 29
A Armin c Brown b Moody 9
D Jacques c Owen b Moody 10
A Jenkins s Brown b Meadows 11
M Bateman b Owen 12
A Scott lbw b Owen 4
C Kelly b Meadows 6
C Woods c Brown b Owen 4
D Graham not out..........................4
J Guy not out 3
Extras..........................................12
Total 104

Bowling: I Graham 12-5-18-0; P Owen 9-0-28-3; S Moody 10-1-30-3; J Meadows 7.5-1-23-2.

Alnwick II beat Chopwell II by eight wickets.