Another 23-point haul allowed Hales to regain top spot in Alliance Division Two over local rivals Beccles.Hales welcomed Dersingham to Postwick on Saturday.

Another 23-point haul allowed Hales to regain top spot in Alliance Division Two over local rivals Beccles.

Hales welcomed Dersingham to Postwick on Saturday. Dersingham had failed to field a team the week before against Beccles, but with people back from holiday they were nearly full strength.

Steve Rowe lost his fifth toss in five competitive games but due to late arrivals Dersingham chose to bat first on what looked to be a cracking wicket.

Barrett dispatched the first ball of the innings off Rob Andersen for six over square leg but Andersen recovered his composure and, ably supported by Todd Jones, made the Dersingham openers work hard for their runs.

Andersen made the first breakthrough, bowling ex-county youth team mate Alistair Poll for one before Jones removed the dangerous Barrett caught at extra cover by Rowe for 16. Andersen struck again and Graham Squire got in on the act and Dersingham were four down for 36 off 16 overs.

Jason Southgate (60) and Shaun Felgate (59) put on a good 123 partnership. The Hales bowlers made both players work hard and at times they were very unorthodox in their attempts to score. But once they were out the innings again crumbled to close on 175-9 from 46 overs. Squire was the pick of the bowlers claiming 4-31 from 10 overs and the reliable Andersen chipped in with 3-43 from 12.

The Hales reply started brightly. Martin Cornish scored a quick 22 in an opening partnership of 31 with Chris Andersen. Dave Harmer departed quickly for four for Philly Squire (29 not out) to join Andersen in a partnership of 76 dominated by the young opener whose 64 was a sublime mix of defence and attack.

When he was bowled by Poll his older brother Dan replaced him and his quick-fire 32 not out eclipsed the solid Squire who was again happy to play the supporting role and Hales reached their target with 12 overs to spare for the loss of three wickets.

With Welsh overseas player Neil Pearce returning this week skipper Rowe will be able to field what is on paper his strongest XI for the first time this season for the visit to Saxlingham.

The Royal Lifeguard Society man of the matchwas Chris Andersen for another sound keeping display allied to a top score of 64.

Hales first XI had the unusual luxury of playing up the Green on Sunday as they entertained Mattishall in the Carter Plate. Mattishall, although in the division above Hales, are near the bottom.

Skipper Martin Cornish lost the toss and was asked to bat and at 59-6 the hosts were in trouble. Only Mark Ramsdale with 20 looked to apply himself. Todd Jones with 40 and Graham Squire with 45 the added 76 for the seventh wicket to pull Hales towards respectability. Once they departed within three runs of each other the innings finished with a predictable slump to 156 all out.

Due to their efforts at least the bowlers had something to defend and Rob Andersen and Matty Lovick bowled tightly and the Mattishall innings took a similar shape to that of Hales. Only opener Gosling with 22 played with any application and the visitors themselves had slumped to 48-5.

T Fordham with a quick-fire 43 looked to threaten the target but regular wickets, shared around the bowlers who were well supported by wicketkeeper Ramsdale, saw Mattishall bowled out for 145.