AFTER last week's disappointing start to the season, South Wilts bounced back to winning ways at the expense of newly promoted Hursley Park.

Their 60-run winning margin was a comfortable one, but the result hung in the balance for a long time.

Invited to bat first, the hosts suffered two early blows as both Alex Senneck and Russell Rowe were dismissed. And when Chris Rogers, 19, was also removed with the score at just 34, South Wilts were indeed in a precarious position.

Skipper Rob Wade then joined Jason Laney and the pair set about rebuilding the innings.

Laney looked well set for another big score, but when he was out for 30 with the score on 90, the champions looked in trouble.

In last year's campaign, South Wilts always managed to put together one significant partnership to dig themselves out of any trouble, and again that ability was to the fore.

Jon Chandler joined Wade and the pair produced what ultimately proved a match-winning partnership.

Against some tight Hursley bowling, the pair began slowly, making sure they were each well-set before taking any risks. But they upped the run-rate steadily in the final 20 overs, both playing some fine shots.

Their stand was worth 140 but when Chandler, 55, was run out in the penultimate over, it led to a clatter of late wickets.

Wade, clearly in pain from a pre-match back injury, fell just three runs short of a deserved century, when he holed out in the final over of the innings.

Reflecting on the result the skipper said: "It was a good effort in the end.

"We got ourselves into a spot of trouble but hauled ourselves out of it with interest."

Wade also declared himself happy with his own performance, adding: "Batting is a strange business. One week you feel a million dollars and don't get any runs, then another week you feel terrible and get loads."

Their target, virtually the same as the one they had failed to defend the previous week, was seriously under threat as Paul Marks, 42, and Adrian Small, 45, looked in control.

But South Wilts, now led by vice-captain Laney with Wade injured, stuck to their task, and an improved bowling and fielding performance kept Hursley under pressure.

Lysander Wolf was the chief beneficiary as he picked up 3-43, while Chris Rogers, 1-22 off ten overs, was forced into bowling action by the absence of Wade, and, in tandem with Laney, slowed the run-rate down to a virtual standstill.

A game that had looked to be tilting Hursley's way with 105 runs needed off 20 overs with six wickets left and the experienced pair of Jimmy Taylor and former Hampshire star, Adrian Aymes, at the wicket, now swung dramatically in South Wilts' favour.

As the run-rate increased, the pressure told on Park's batsmen and Laney picked up 3-25 as they subsided to 182 all out.

A much-changed South Wilts head to Portsmouth on Saturday for their next league match.

Alex Senneck and Nick Brown are unavailable, but the champions hope to give first outings of the season to Henry Lamb and James Tomlinson.

The only other change will be if Wade's injury does not improve.

On Sunday, South Wilts visit ECB Home Counties Premier outfit Reading for a Cockspur Cup third round tie.

The club's seconds have experienced the highs and lows of cricket in two short weeks.

After last week's victory over OTs & Romsey, they turned in a terrible display against Hursley Park's second string.

Bowled out in just 31.5 overs for 93, Adam Croutear, 19, was the pick of a sorry batting performance.

Hursley had little problem polishing off the target and lost just one wicket as they completed the task in the 24th over with James Kennedy's unbeaten 59 seeing them home.

South Wilts' thirds produced another superb display to beat a strong Cadnam side who made just 124.

Jono Elford was the pick of a tidy attack with 4-24, while skipper Matt Newman took 3-19.

South Wilts lost three wickets in what was a comfortable run chase, but got home thanks to a fine knock from young Tom Pearce, 34 not out.

South Wilts fourths went down by four wickets against Hursley Park thirds.

Al McCluskey opened the innings and made a patient 20 and along with Trevor Pittman, 66, saw off the new ball.

Having lost the second wicket the base of the innings was provided by the father and son combination of Trevor and Robert Pittman.

In 18 overs the pair put on 115 runs with 13-year-old Robert, 46, easily outscoring dad with a boundary-strewn innings.

Excellent late hitting from Chris Abel, 19, and Paul Leney, 12, helped set a challenging 188.

But Hursley's openers set about their cause in a positive fashion although the introduction of Robert Pittman, 3-60 from 12 overs, saw the hosts wobble slightly at 143-5.

However, Steve Westbrook's hard hitting 38 not out saw the hosts home.

Another 13-year-old to im-press for the second week running was quick bowler Dominic Webb who bowled a very useful spell of 1-10 from four overs.