The first team tasted defeat for the first time this season at the hands of a strong Brixworth side. This was always going to be a tough fixture for the Cooks but was made even tougher by the absence of messers Ashby, Harvey-Jones and Kruger which severely weakened the Cooks bowling attack. After winning the toss the visitors elected to field. Despite losing Jason Roberts to injury the Cooks got off to a steady start with most of the batters getting in but not quite pushing on Ashley Davis and Gareth Tompkins with 35 each top scored , with Dan McLaughlin 29 and Fletcher Callaghan 24 also contributing to a total of 185-8 from 50 overs. Brixworth in fairness were never in any trouble and comfortably reached their target in the 44 th over with just two wickets down. Tom Smyth was the pick of the Cooks bowlers with figures of 11-4-30-1.
Over at the very picturesque Upper Benefield complete with a circling Red Kite as a spectator, the unbeaten table topping seconds were playing the unbeaten second placed Weekley & Warkton III`s in a thrilling encounter. Ryan won the toss and elected to field no doubt hoping his decimated bowling attack could at least give the batters some chance. Without the injured Tony Bird and first team call ups for Mark Bird and Matt Irons it was left to Liam Knight and Syd Mason to open the attack. By drinks at 23 overs all was well as Weekley were 56-4 having recovered from 17-3. But the end of Syd`s excellent spell of 13-3-24-1 combined with the Weekley lads deciding to open their shoulders saw runs soon start to mount up . Adam Lee-Brown suffered as his first 11 overs went for just 35 but his next 2 going for 26 to give him figures that did not do him justice. Ryan was also on the end of some lusty blows as the dangerous looking pair of Hines and Mottola began to turn the game in Weekleys favour. But the return of Liam to the attack saw his extra pace a bit to much as Hines skied one to mid off where Jack Quennell made a difficult catch look easy. Mottola continued to pile up the runs and only a superb last over from Matt Morrissey taking a wicket and only conceding 5 runs kept the score below 200 as the hosts finished on 189-7, with Liam finishing on 4-58. The Cooks reply got off to a shocker for the second week running as Russ Coleman was out without a run on the board. But the two Matt`s , Morrissey and Golby were soon punishing every loose ball and the score raced onto 56-1 from just 10 overs. Matt Morrissey then got a leading edge and was caught for 24 and when Dan Harris went without troubling the scorers and the Cooks were in trouble at 56-3. Then Ryan fell with the score on 81 but there were still 30 overs left. Adam Lee-Brown joined Matt at the crease and they put on 22 in 12 overs but more importantly stopped the fall of wickets and with Matt going well and still good bats to come the game was evenly poised. At 103 Adam holed out to mid on and Jack Quennell joined Matt in the middle. They put on 30 in 9 overs playing good sensible cricket. But having seen off the two main bowlers it was now Cogenhoes turn to open their shoulders. Matt`s power meant that when he faced the Weekley field looked like something from the John Player League back in the 1970`s with virtually everyone back on the boundary. When Jack was facing they all came back in. The run chase was on and as Matt and Jack turned ones into twos and the pressure was telling on the Weekley fielders and the 39 th over was the turning point and at 148 -5 the over began. Matt found the gap and they pushed for two, a wild throw and a third was run. As Jack was now facing the field came in, his first shot was another two, then a four, then a six and finally a single and the score on 164-5. Weekley were in disarray and as the 43 rd over started the scores were level. With Matt facing it should have been the perfect ending but he could not quite carry his bat and was bowled for a superb innings of 94 which included just 10 fours and no sixes so whilst the Weekley side were patrolling the boundary Matt scored 54 runs in singles, twos and threes I know a famous Yorkshireman that would class that as good cricket Mr Golby ( Tony Bird that is not Sir Geoffrey). The honour of scoring the winning runs went to Liam who casually pulled his first ball a chest high full toss for four. Jack finished on 42 not out his highest score for Cogenhoe which even had his Dad singing his praises. So a four wicket win that keeps the seconds at the top of the league and unbeaten. Next week they play Brixworth III`s who are also unbeaten so another mouth watering clash to look forward too. The seconds can be very pleased with their start especially as 2 of their 4 wins have come against previously unbeaten teams and teams who currently occupy second and third places.