IT has been an encouraging start to the new season for Stevenage. Two new sponsorship deals have been agreed with Thistle Hotels, whose hotel at Little Wymondley has hosted the last two dinner and presentation evenings, and the Greene King brewery. On fie

IT has been an encouraging start to the new season for Stevenage.

Two new sponsorship deals have been agreed with Thistle Hotels, whose hotel at Little Wymondley has hosted the last two dinner and presentation evenings, and the Greene King brewery.

On field, on Saturday, two Stevenage teams did battle, one led by fourth XI captain Phil Ashby, featuring first XI all-rounder Gareth Berg and a few new faces including fellow South African Duncan Visser and the other by new first XI captain David Carr.

Ashby's team posted a mediocre 144 in their 40 overs despite 75 from Berg.

Carr's team coasted to victory thanks largely to Zubi Afzal's 52 in his first innings for the club and a classy unbeaten 52 from Adil Zargar.

Sunday's fixture was a more competitive affair against Houghton Town which saw Stevenage amass 221 in their 40 overs after Carr (61) and Gary Brown (62) shared a 138-run opening partnership.

Martin Nevill took 4-23 as Houghton collapsed to 153 all out.

Returning players Tony Skeggs and David Lowe led the way in Knebworth Park's impressive start in a four-wicket win over friendly rivals North Mymms.

Both are back at the Park after several years away since starting their cricket as colts at Knebworth.

Mymms made 140 all out with Skeggs taking 3-19 and Paul Slade 3-31.

Lowe made 35 and Skeggs struck a composed unbeaten 61 to see them home.

On the adjoining pitch, Shaun Robinson struck a free-flowing 106 as they piled on 256-7 before bowling Watton-at-Stone out for 140.

This weekend, Park visit Letchworth with the two clubs playing each other across four teams and visit Hitchin in the first round of the Cockspur National Cup on Sunday.

Letchworth had a thrilling friendly against Potters Bar in glorious sunshine.

Fielding five new players but with little bowling, Colin Letford elected to field and his makeshift attack, supported by some excellent fielding, restricted the visitors to 159-6 off their 45 overs.

Tom Cranston took the new ball and finished with 3-50, while his opening partner, 16-year-old Richard Barclay, bowled outstandingly well on his first team debut.

An excellent stand of 84 for the second wicket between new boys Steve March (45) and Simon Elliott (38) put Letchworth in a strong position.

The introduction of spinners Paul McGee and Paul Barker brought about a typical Letchworth collapse.

But with Ben Wallis scoring a quick 33, they needed eight off four balls with three wickets left.

Wallis then holed out to McGee who proceeded to complete his hat-trick to give Potters Bar a seven-run win with one ball to spare. McGee finished with 6-52.

Letchworth also entertain North Middlesex in the first round of the Cockspur National Cup on Sunday.

Hitchin started their pre-season at Tring on Sunday with defeat by six wickets.

After making 189-6 from their 40 overs, Craig Millwood and new signing Jimmy Lewis scoring fifties, the Bucks side reached their target with three overs to spare.

Preston skipper Ashley Catlin scored a fine unbeaten century as his side comprehensively beat Houghton Town by seven wickets.

They restricted the visitors to 230-9 from their 40 overs on a good surface for batting.

Skipper Catlin (123no) and Chris Cole (56) batted with ease to put on 153 for the second wicket as Preston reached their target with five overs to spare.

Ickleford Cricketers began their season with an exciting 40-over friendly defeat to Biggleswade Town.

Cricketers posted a decent 198-8 with Darren Seaby top scoring with a big-hitting 36no. Biggleswade lost two early wickets to Dave Allen but recovered to chase down the total despite Seaby's burst of 3-38 thanks to a youthful middle order.