Antony Dark put his former team Penwortham to the sword with a stunning all-round performance in the opening round of Crabtree Cup.
Dark hit a swashbuckling knock of 69 off 38 balls with seven sixes before taking 5-28 with the ball to secure a 73-run win.
The game was played in glorious weather and Jake Smalley had no hesitation in batting after finally winning a toss.
Former Coppice player Harry Bates is now captain of Penwortham 4th and he quickly reduced the visitors to 30-2.
However, Dark immediately went on the attack, scoring 69 of the 80-run partnership he shared for the third wicket with Bobby Wood.
Wood scored an impressive 41 off 51 balls before Ryan Adderley closed on an undefeated 51 off 75 balls. He’s now scored 187 runs this season without being dismissed.
Joe Seager chipped in with 17 as Coppice closed on a competitive 228-8 from their 40 overs.
Penwortham were quickly reduced to 27-2 but a half century partnership took the score to 79 before Dark stuck to dismiss Will Jackson for 42, aided by the first of three smart catches behind the stumps by James Field.
The home batters had no answer to Dark, who also clean bowled Alex Kemp and Harry Bates for 24.
Exactly nine years earlier Dark had taken 6-16 for Penwortham but these were his first wickets for Coppice.
Penwortham lost their last three wickets with the score at 155 with Ibby Akram taking 3-22 and brother Usmaan Akram adding 2-38.
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On Saturday, White Coppice 1st XI slipped to their first reverse of the season with a 68-run loss at Hoghton.
On a fantastic batting wicket, Hoghton’s batters made hay while the sun shone to post a formidable 274-5.
Openers Usman Gani and Amik Kandola shared a 64-run partnership before they fell to Matt Tinsley and Ian Aldred on the same score.
When Soyeb Patel fell for a quickfire 16, Hoghton were 86-3 and the game was in the balance.
However Zak Mulla (74) and Sarfraz Diwan (81 not out) hit their highest scores for Hoghton in a match-winning 144-run partnership for the 4th wicket.
There was moment of concern when Coppice chairman Paul Dobson accidentally hit the home side’s umpire on the head with a stray throw but thankfully the official was okay to continue.
In reply, Usmaan Akram was sent into open the batting and hit a quickfire 39 off 36 balls with seven fours and one big six over midwicket.
He was dismissed the ball after registering a 50-run opening partnership with Chris Maguire.
Coppice were well placed at 110-2 but Maguire was smartly stumped down the leg side for a patient 30 before Ant Dark fell to a catch on the boundary after a quickfire knock of 25.
Ben Knight played some lovely shots in his innings of 26 before being run out with a direct throw.
Ryan Adderley was left unbeaten on 48 from 60 balls as Coppice’s innings closed on a respectable 206-8 to secure two bonus points.
In truth, Houghton outplayed Coppice and ran out worthy winners.