FOR Loddon it was a bad toss to lose against Great Yarmouth. The wicket looked a belter. But it was another win for Loddon, and although it wasn't pretty, it's their third of the season, and they march on to Kirkley Sports.

FOR Loddon it was a bad toss to lose against Great Yarmouth. The wicket looked a belter. But it was another win for Loddon, and although it wasn't pretty, it's their third of the season, and they march on to Kirkley Sports.

Unsurprisingly Loddon were sent into the field. From the start the opening bowlers Chris Baker and Andy Wells bowled with precision and concentration. After 20 overs Yarmouth were only 58-1. Both Baker and Wells bowled their 12 overs straight through, Andy Wells finishing with 30-2.

Such was the stranglehold the two opening bowlers had exerted on Yarmouth, they had to attack the spinners, Mark Stewart and Stuart Nunn, and Armiger stumped two of the top batsman as they tried to charge the legspinner. Stewart ended up with 4-32.

Yarmouth couldn't get over 150, ending on 147-7. It was superb effort by the Loddon bowlers, well backed up by the fielders, apart from on a couple of occasions.

The pitch showed there was still life in it when the Loddon openers both took hard blows to the body, but Ryan Edmonds and Tom Rowson started building a partnership. And when Edmonds hit a straight six back over the bowler's head, Yarmouth were looking at their boots.

Rowson and Edmonds took the team past the 50 and when Rowson was out for 40, Loddon were sitting pretty at 72-1 off only 17 overs. However when Edmonds was out for 32, wickets started tumbling at both ends, four Loddon batsmen getting ducks.

Throughout all the chaos, James Riseborough kept his head and steadily chipped away at the score, then carrying his bat through the innings, ending up on 41no as Loddon limped past the winning post with only two wickets remaining, having lost two wickets when the scores were level.

After fielding so well it was a disappointing run chase by Loddon, especially as Yarmouth played most of the game with 10 fielders after their opening bowler, Ellis, dropped a catch, gashing his face in the process and ending up in A and E.

LODDON A travelled to Brisley in high spirits, looking for their first away win to kick start their season.

Electing to bat on a sponge-like wicket the Loddon openers struggled as Brisley bowled a very good line and length.

Four overs in, Brisley took the upper hand as the impressive A Grief (12-5-15-1) had N Reeve caught for only five. A Aldred and K Johnstone found it hard work but consolidated.

Aldred soon found some form but was caught at the second attempt in the deep leaving Loddon on 34-2 after 17 overs. S Davey nudged the run rate up as Johnstone dug deep against a disciplined attack on a tough wicket.

In the 33rd over M Grief ended Johnstone's resolute innings for 20. Davey along with Loddon's lower order hitters managed post a competitive total of 133-8 with Davey ending on 55 for yet another superb innings, this time one of hard work.

Some loose bowling early on gave Brisley the upper hand as J Shales took advantage. J Curtis got good movement and bounce from the wicket as he gave the home batters nothing in an excellent spell with no reward as he beat the bat three or four times an over.

Aldred got the break as he bowled Shales for 31 and then introduced T Jermy, who slotted into some splendid slow left arm bowling which gave Loddon hope.

He and Davey began to take wickets regularly as Jermy took 3-34 and on another day would of claimed five with a top spell. But Brisley were always ahead and eased home in the 33rd over.

S Davey claimed the Musker McIntyre MoM for a fine 55 and 2 for 25.

Great Yarmouth 147-7 (Nichols 26; M Stewart 4-32; A Wells 2-30).

Loddon 148-8 (J Riseborough 41*, T Rowson 40, R Edmonds 32; Oxborough 5-18)

Loddon Garden and Seed Man of the Match : James Riseborough.