Sway recorded their first ever 1st team victory against their local rivals in an entertaining encounter at Balmer Lawn. Just two seasons back, Sway were three divisions behind Brock so this victory was a sure sign of the progress the club as made - even more so give the young side Sway put out with the oldest player (by 10 years!) at 38.

Sway batted first on what looked to be the usual decent Balmer Lawn batting track but with the traditional dodgy outfield. Alex Hall once again wormed his was into opening alongside Adam Clark, but straight away Sway were in trouble when Adam Clark was triggered for just a couple of runs. Things got even worse for Sway as Steve How managed to go in and out for a duck before Sway's number four Nilantha Atapattu had even arrived at the ground. Consequently, Jon Grasham went in to do the job at four. Hall was looking relatively untroubled playing some fine shots however Grasham's poor run with the bat continued when he did not quite get on top of a ball outside the off stump and flashed a cut to point. Atapattu then joined Hall at the middle, the two batting together for a considerable amount of time but Hall conspiring to have 95% of the strike bringing up an excellent 50 in the process. Atapattu, when he did get to face some balls played a couple of good strokes, one sweep in particular, but before he could establish himself, was adjudged to have nicked one to the keeper. Jack Walton joined the action looking for his first big score of the season and to push Sway to a 200+, but when Hall was out for 68, and several other batsmen followed fairly cheaply, consolidation looked to be the name of the game. Walton was playing as ever with his correct and chanceless style, working the ball around and keeping the scoreline ticking over. When joined by somewhat more rural style of Dave Marshall at number 10 with 7 over to go, the objective was to bat the full 42 overs and push a bit towards the end. Despite the contrast in years and styles, Marshall and Walton combination is particularly quick between the wickets and with Marshall forcing the field back with a series of streaky boundaries, the pair were able to push runs into gaps and force errors from the Brock fielders. Walton was finally run out with 4 balls to go for an excellent 56 and a few runs later Sway had moved onto 194-6  - Marshall needing a 6 off the last ball to earn the extra batting point, and Brock needing the wicket for a extra bowling point. Marshall's intentions were quite clear - pointing at the hotel windows, but in the event he failed to middle the ball and it ran down to the fielder for a couple of runs to leave him on 23* and Sway on 196-9.

On a good pitch Sway knew that they would have to bowl well and take early wickets - and concede nothing in the field. Right from the start Grasham was bowling with great pace and bounce whilst at the other end Walton was bowling with his trademark refinement. Brock were soon struggling like Sway had done, Grasham bowling one opener and Walton generating an edge to Adam Clark behind the stumps.  It looked like the Williams brothers were likely to be the key for Brock and Grasham successfully removed the first one clean bowled . Grasham summoned every sinew for his last over of first spell. In an exciting period of play, Grasham bowled a fierce delivery  and there was a massive appeal for a catch behind - not given. With the tension rising Grasham steamed in again and with the next ball and bowled a screamer trapping the Brock player LBW. However the other Williams was looking very dangerous - and ominously clubbed Terry Patch's first ball of his spell for 6 across the main road.   Patch at the other end soon recovered his composure to bowl a superb spell of "cutters". At the other end Steve Thistleton replaced Grasham and despite his illness, bowled as well as he has ever done, starting with a wicket maiden and following up with another maiden and was unlucky not to get a further wicket when a nick was put down behind the stumps. Sway continued to field well (Hall excepted) and Brock although near the required rate were starting to have too take risks to keep up. With the game still somewhat in the balance, Thistleton was replaced by the cunning of Atapattu, . However the game was soon looking beyond Brock as Atapattu trapped Williams LBW in his first over. Encouraged by the pitch, Atapattu turned to spin and took a wicket with his first ball with the batsmen playing on; and went on to claim a further wicket (ct Grasham at mid-wicket). With Patch also bagging three in an excellent performance, Sway wrapped up the game with Brock 97 all out.

Jack Walton was presented with a bottle of bubbly for his MOM performance and the celebrations were particularly sweet for ex-skipper and Brock local Dave Marshall - sufficient to stand a round for the team in the 'Sters.

With Burley losing to 3rd placed Sway Green, and Sway moving up to 4th the promotion battle looks to be really exciting. Sway may well need to maintain  a 100% record with close to maximum points  through July to set up a potentially classic encounter at Burley on 1st August.