Letchworth narrowly failed to take maximum points from visitors Luton Town and Indians in a far more positive display at Whitethorn Lane on Saturday. Skipper Colin Letford won the toss and elected to bat. John Hilliard and Ben Wallis, who appear to be for

Letchworth narrowly failed to take maximum points from visitors Luton Town and Indians in a far more positive display at Whitethorn Lane on Saturday.

Skipper Colin Letford won the toss and elected to bat.

John Hilliard and Ben Wallis, who appear to be forging a good opening partnership, scored quickly against Luton's limited seam attack.

Luton soon switched to spin which quickly produced results as Hilliard was stumped for 35 and Wallis then holed out to mid off for 38, ending a stand of 72.

The middle order did not deal with the spin attack well with the exception of Dave Albon (35).

From looking like reaching a formidable total Letchworth found themselves 170-8 with 12 overs remaining.

Fortunately the experience of Andy Newland (25no) and Richard Jerome (19no) took them to 217-8 off their 53 overs, adding an unbeaten 47 runs.

Letchworth opened with the old ball and Luton immediately showed a complete lack of ambition, reaching 16-1 off 15 overs and then struggling to 70-3 off 30 overs.

Letford rang the changes to try and buy wickets with some success but Luton played out time at 116-8, Jerome taking 4-47 off 21 overs.

The second team were involved in another high-scoring game at Southgate Adelaide.

They were all out for 274 with two balls remaining, Sam Booth making a superb 91, Dave Mullen 46 and Ali Shakeel 34.

Skipper Graham Bishton dangled the carrot to try and force a victory but the home side reached their target to win by two wickets. There were four wickets for Adam Jenkins and three from Tom Cranston.

The third XI had a comfortable win over Old Camdenians as veteran Colin Croucher (5-16) bowled them out for 133 before Navin Seneveratne (69) steered them home by seven wickets.

The fourths, like the first XI, had the opposition eight down but could not force a result over Baldock 2nds.

Letchworth reached 284-5 led by Henry Robinson (100no) and Matt Dear (77) and Baldock finished on 172-8 despite Matt Bridge's 5-71.

The fifth team had the easiest win of the day with their game all over by 3pm! Steve Lubbe (8-13) almost single-handedly dismissed Bentley Heath 2nds for 44 and Letchworth knocked off the runs in seven overs with Matt Collison unbeaten on 34.

* Letchworth Ladies had a convincing victory over Wiltshire team Purton Exiles at Whitethorn Lane on Sunday.

Winning the toss, Letchworth skipper Vikki Borman confidently put Exiles in to bat. Her confidence was repaid when Emma Cane bowled the Exiles opener with the first ball of the match.

Letchworth kept the Exiles score down to three an over, despite some aggressive play from their top order batsmen, as the visitors finished on 133-5 in their 40 overs. Cane was Letchworth's outstanding bowler with 2-19 from 10 overs.

In reply, Letchworth openers Julie Clarke and Borman plundered the first 10 overs to put on 50. Exiles then gained some control and took the wicket of Clarke. But Borman and Rachel Cheffy saw Letchworth to victory in 25 overs, with Borman unbeaten on 75.