Northwood Town lost their first game of the season convincingly by nine wickets to St Albans and West Indians in Herts Division Four as they struggled to overcome an injury crisis with key players unavailable.

Town didnt have the best of starts as they slumped to 18 for three. Veer Vadgama (45) and Richard Doling (54) knuckled down and applied themselves well with a steady partnership of 71.

With 14 overs remaining and Town having reached 101 for four the visitors had recovered well and provided a platform to build towards a competitive score. However, the lack of depth was woefully exposed as Town capitulated to some tight bowling and lost their next six wickets for just 13 runs.

A score of 114 was never going to be enough and only David Bushnell managed to get a solitary wicket as the visitors eased home with nine wickets in hand.

Newly-promoted Langleybury Seconds were fortunate to hold on for a in draw at North Mymms Seconds.

The home team got off to a good start and despite reasonable spells from Bury’s openers including Andrew Cheeseman (one for 21) breakthroughs proved hard to come by.

Ross Channer took two for 75 but the only real highlight of the first innings for the visitors was a magnificent direct hit run out by Richard Oxley, as the home side’s innings closed on 227 for five.

Bury’s reply started slowly as openers Richard Oxley (25) and Nahim Amin (15) were pegged back by some accurate fast bowling. They never really recovered from this slow start and as they tried to force the run rate the inevitable wickets fell.

Earlier Channer (40) and Habib Alam (39 not out) had given Bury a brief glimpse of victory but as wickets fell this flicker of hope was quickly extinguished and it was left for Alam and Cheeseman to hold out for the last eight overs to secure a draw as the visitors closed on 196 for nine.

Chipperfield Clarendon Seconds enjoyed an excellent start with an 85-run over Watton at Stone.

After winning the toss, Chipperfield scored a total that seemed below par at 187 all out. Skipper Nigel Cousens hit 30 and there were strong contributions from Andy Green (45) and Jack Bambury (43).

Cousens decided to take the old ball after tea and Watton never really came to terms with this tactic. Bruce Samson bowled a great spell of three for 41 in his first outing for the side and Graham Gurney carried on from last year with six for 43. Young Michael Edwards picked up the other wicket near the end as Watton were bowled out for 105.