IT was a dreadful weekend for Hitchin as all three Saturday teams lost – and then the Sunday side followed their lead. The first XI suffered defeat against Berkhamsted in the Saracens Herts League Division One, while the second and third teams lost to Tot

IT was a dreadful weekend for Hitchin as all three Saturday teams lost - and then the Sunday side followed their lead.

The first XI suffered defeat against Berkhamsted in the Saracens Herts League Division One, while the second and third teams lost to Totteridge Millhillians and Northampton Exiles third teams. Cockfosters beat the Sunday side.

The firsts went down by six wickets against Berkhamsted as the home side chased down Hitchin's target of 178 at Kitcheners Field.

Hitchin captain Will Pugh won the toss and elected to bat first and it looked to be a good decision as the opening pair of Simon Mayes and James Kettleborough put on 75 for the opening wicket.

Mayes made 44 with Kettleborough scoring 23. However when Kettleborough was dubiously adjudged leg before, things started to swing back in Berkhamsted's favour.

Jimmy Lewis was run out backing up at the non-striker's end as Hitchin fell to 105-5.

However a knock of 29 from Oli Hammond helped propel Hitchin into bonus point territory and they finished with a reasonable score of 178-8.

After the tea break, Berkhamsted made the target look relatively easy, reaching it for the loss of four wickets.

Ashley Hammond, Simon Bayston and Pugh all took a wicket each, but the highlight was a spectacular catch by Lewis which evoked memories of Andrew Strauss at slip in the 2005 Ashes series.

The result leaves Hitchin in a safe sixth place ahead of a local derby with Knebworth Park this Saturday at Lucas Lane.

* The second team's hopes of promotion to Division Five suffered a setback as they went down by six wickets to slip back to sixth.

Hitchin succumbed for only 115, with Tim Porter top scoring with 28, Colin Burnell making 21 and Ian Mills 18.

After tea, despite three wickets for Gavin Bidgood and one for Ian Goddard, Totteridge reached their target for the loss of four wickets.

The thirds were on the wrong end of a heavy 193-run defeat and an extraordinary performance from Northampton Exiles' Adnan Chaudary.

Chaudary top scored for his team with 59no before taking the exceptional figures of 9-27 as Hitchin were all out for a sorry 57.

The home team racked up 250-6 declared in 45 overs with Andy Beaton claiming three wickets.

Chaudary then ripped through Hitchin to bowl them out for 57, with Jonny Gray top scoring on 16.

* Cockfosters won by eight wickets on Sunday to complete a miserable weekend for Hitchin.

Hitchin won the toss and got off to a good start, reaching 72 without loss with Jonny Gray making 38 and Simon Mayes 21.

Four wickets then fell for eight runs as Cockfosters came back into the game before a partnership of 29 between Russ Cooper (19) and Will Pugh took Hitchin past the 100 mark, before Pugh started to play an aggressive role.

He hit five fours and two sixes as he made an important 53 to help the away team post a total of 179 all out.

Cockfosters only lost two wickets in reaching their total in 29 overs.