Rookies Will Gardner and Harry Robson turned teenage tormentors to guide unbeaten Hook & Newnham Basics to a six-wicket win over promoted Southern Premier League rivals Sparsholt at the KGV.
Off-spinner Gardner took 5-30 on only his second first team league appearance, while left-hander Robson carried his bat for an unbeaten 63 as Hook trimmed down Sparsholt’s modest 179.
Jeremy Frith, who made a resolute 72, was desperately short of top order partners for Sparsholt, who sank from 51-1 to 119-6, with Martyn James and Liam Shore taking two wickets each.
Frith was left on his todd but before eventually being bowled by Gardner, who will also have enjoyed taking the wicket of his old Hook & Newnham Colts team-mate Liam Doran (34), the last man out, before Will phoned his dad Vince for a pocket money advance for his five-wicket jug.
Michael Haworth quickly disposed of Kieran Thomson and Harry Warner, but when Robson was joined by Matt Buckingham (38) Hook began to enjoy better fortune.
The pair added 79 before Josh Buckingham (45) lined up with Robson (eight fours) for the match clinching partnership.
Hampshire’s Chris Wood made his first appearance of the season, but was unable to spare OTs & Romsey from an 11-run defeat by nearby Calmore Sports at Loperwood Park.
The left-armer returned a tidy 3-14, but Calmore’s 178 (Ben Perry’s 43 lifted them from 84-5) proved beyond reach of OTs whose own top order was blown away by swing king Steve Wright (3-13).
OTs lurched to 31-5 and later 69-6 before Charlie King (61) and Tom George (40 not out) put on 82 and take the visitors to 167-7.
These are difficult times for Ventnor, whose captain Chris Russell has stepped down to be replaced by Ben Woodhouse.
They remain the only SPL1 side without a win after a seven-wicket defeat at Sarisbury Athletic, who host 2018 Lord’s finalists Liphook & Ripsley in the Village Cup county final at Allotment Road on Sunday, 1pm.
Jordan Wright (3-34) and Phil Jewell (3-21) combined to bowl Ventnor out for 122.
Sam Floyd smacked a 14-four 67 after Ricky Rawlins had scored 30 of Sarisbury’s first 43 runs.
New Milton built on the encouragement of their near miss defeat at Hook & Newnham Basics and beat visiting Rowledge by 20 runs at Fernhill.
Lee Beck (57) top scored in Milton’s 156, while only Sam Plater (37) made his mark in a Rowledge response of 136.
Off-spinner Gardner took 5-30 on only his second first team league appearance, while left-hander Robson carried his bat for an unbeaten 63 as Hook trimmed down Sparsholt’s modest 179.
Jeremy Frith, who made a resolute 72, was desperately short of top order partners for Sparsholt, who sank from 51-1 to 119-6, with Martyn James and Liam Shore taking two wickets each.
Frith was left on his todd but before eventually being bowled by Gardner, who will also have enjoyed taking the wicket of his old Hook & Newnham Colts team-mate Liam Doran (34), the last man out, before Will phoned his dad Vince for a pocket money advance for his five-wicket jug.
Michael Haworth quickly disposed of Kieran Thomson and Harry Warner, but when Robson was joined by Matt Buckingham (38) Hook began to enjoy better fortune.
The pair added 79 before Josh Buckingham (45) lined up with Robson (eight fours) for the match clinching partnership.
Hampshire’s Chris Wood made his first appearance of the season, but was unable to spare OTs & Romsey from an 11-run defeat by nearby Calmore Sports at Loperwood Park.
The left-armer returned a tidy 3-14, but Calmore’s 178 (Ben Perry’s 43 lifted them from 84-5) proved beyond reach of OTs whose own top order was blown away by swing king Steve Wright (3-13).
OTs lurched to 31-5 and later 69-6 before Charlie King (61) and Tom George (40 not out) put on 82 and take the visitors to 167-7.
These are difficult times for Ventnor, whose captain Chris Russell has stepped down to be replaced by Ben Woodhouse.
They remain the only SPL1 side without a win after a seven-wicket defeat at Sarisbury Athletic, who host 2018 Lord’s finalists Liphook & Ripsley in the Village Cup county final at Allotment Road on Sunday, 1pm.
Jordan Wright (3-34) and Phil Jewell (3-21) combined to bowl Ventnor out for 122.
Sam Floyd smacked a 14-four 67 after Ricky Rawlins had scored 30 of Sarisbury’s first 43 runs.
New Milton built on the encouragement of their near miss defeat at Hook & Newnham Basics and beat visiting Rowledge by 20 runs at Fernhill.
Lee Beck (57) top scored in Milton’s 156, while only Sam Plater (37) made his mark in a Rowledge response of 136.