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The 1st XI season got under way with the local derby match at home against Bolton Abbey, we couldn#t have asked for a better day slightly cloudy but perfect conditions for Dalby's in swinging pies. The balding captain went out to middle and started his season winning the toss; he had no hesitation sticking the away team into bat. Joy of winning the toss soon turned to frustration then worry as 2 o'clock came and went and there was no sign of player turned grounds man Chris Lowe had his gardening machinery finally got the better of him?

First ball of the season and the honour was given to Mad Frankie Fraser who charged in like an arthritic ant carrying a heavy bag of shopping, backed up at the other end by captain Dalby looking to reclaim the top wicket spot for 2007. Quarter past two and vice captain Lowe finally arrived grinning as usual at his lack of organisation to turn up on time.

Bolton's opening partnership started at a brisk rate before Mad Frankie claimed his first scalp of the season when Tiffany nicked one outside the off stump into the eager gloves of Hebb behind the sticks.

Only seven more runs were added before disaster struck again when a mix up in calling and quick thinking by Blubberhouses answer to Paul Collingwood Mick Lowe threw the ball to Dalby who whipped the bails off to dismiss Holmes, third umpire not required.

Eighteen over's in and Blubbs captain decided it was time to dust off blast from the past Stuart Light who came out and bamboozled Stuart and Hodgson for five and thirty seven respectfully, he was accompanied at the pavilion end by aussie slayer Hendry who picked up the prize wicket of Coward for thirty nine after John "Wilko" Wilkinson generously dropped him over the boundary for six the over before.

Chris Lowe was then brought into the attack and two over's into his spell cries of "Big useless pillock" echoed round the Stade de Brennan as his brother Mick put down a crisp bag.

Abbeys two middle order batsman staged a fight back putting on eighty four before Blubbs overseas recruit Pooh Bear skittled them both within a couple of over's for forty six and forty seven, Midgley and Parkinson were left to see out the remaining over to secure the batting point, target 218 to win.

Opening up the batting for the home side after the tea interval boldly strode out veteran of the club and only person to survive a sighting of the Timble panther Bill Davis and young blood John Wilco. Bill left honours of the first delivery to Wilkie, four balls in and Wilkies day fell apart when he was skittled for the first duck of the day slowly trudging off the field whilst the away team celebrated like a pack of rabid wolves putting the home team at none for one and causing an all too familiar hush over the pavilion.

Craigie was up next and marched boldly out to the centre to join a glum looking Davis probably wishing he#d taken first knock. Coward and Parkinson were relentless with the opening spell but no match for Davis and Craigie who picked off runs like they in a rush to get to The Hopper Lane for six o'clock. Lord, Midgley, Holme, Hodgson, Blackburn and Stuart all got into the attack for Bolton but Blubberhouses number 2 and 3 were trenched in good and proper, Craigie stroking the ball all around the ground notching up his first fifty of the season closely followed by Davis.

Twenty over#s into the second innings and Craigie upped the ante with the bowling attack effortlessly reaching his first Blubberhouses century inside thirty one overs, backup up by Davis who finished the game in style smashing Blackburn out if the park for six to end a convincing first match of the season win, which according to Tim Hendry hasn#t happened since the foot and mouth crisis in 2001.

BCC Points: 5 Bolton Abbey: 1

Fielding Points: G. Hebb (2)

Fact of the day: New record 2nd Wicket Partnership (221) (Sorry Wilkie).

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