White Coppice’s new era began with both Saturday sides picking up impressive wins – the first time Coppice have won two games on the same day since August 2016!
It was a day of firsts for the club with Ryan Adderley marking his first competitive start for Coppice with an unbeaten 88 in the 1st XI’s 100-run win at Longridge 4ths.
He shared the bragging rights with newly-married Matt Tinsley, who took 5-23.
However, the performance of the week came in the 2nd XI match vs Blackpool 4th with Dan Preston returning from becoming a Dad with a match-winning 111 not out.
It was a fitting way for the club to start its competitive season in its 150th anniversary year.
In the 1st XI match, Jake Smalley lost the toss (again) and the visitors were asked to bat first on a green wicket.
New arrival Robert Wood opened the batting with Chris Maguire but was the first to go when he was caught and bowled attempting a pull shot.
Maguire was bowled for 19, which brought in Jordan Halliday, who shared a 66-run third wicket partnership with Adderley before being plumb LBW for an excellent 36.
Antony Dark hit a quickfire 19 before Usmaan Akram (33 not out) and Adderley shared an unbroken partnership of 67 for the fourth wicket as Coppice closed on 223-4.
It was an outstanding knock of 88 by Adderley off 115 balls, including seven fours.
Longridge found scoring difficult in reply with a miserly opening spell by Ian Aldred (2-7) and Tinsley.
An early finish looked on the cards when Longridge slipped to 64-5 but White Coppice were held by a hugely impressive knock by teenage batsman Finn Stoker (17 off 60 balls) and Freddie Rowley, with a run-a-ball 50.
However, Tinsley returned and wrapped up the innings with an impressive spell of swing bowling to take 5-23 to secure the 12 points.
In the 2nd XI match, skipper Martin Cuerden won the toss and opted to bat first.
It looked like a questionable decision when Chris Dale was bowled in the first over after misjudging a leave.
However that brought in Dan Preston, who was making a welcome return after becoming a Dad and he went to score his second hundred for the club.
The bearded number three made an aggressive start but the champagne moment was a straight six by Cuerden in a 2nd wicket stand of 65.
Cuerden perished for 23 attempting another big shot but that brought oin Jeff Smith, who hit a swashbuckling 40 off 49 balls in a stand of 91 with Preston.
Preston went on to bring up his hundred off 116 balls, closing on 111 not out with 17 x 4s and four maximums.
White Coppice’s total of 195-5 looked imposing and a tight opening bowling spell by Ben Knights and Harry Astley didn’t let Blackpool get away.
Both took a wicket each caught by Luke Glover, although both would probably say that the wicket balls were the worst of their spells!
The big wicket came courtesy of Jeff Smith, with Anoop Appu taking a good low catch to dismiss the set opener Kieran Newcombe – off another filthy full toss.
Smith and Cuerden bowled through the middle overs, keeping a lid on the scoring, but finding resistance in the opposition Mick Keane, who hit an unbeaten 69.
Keep an eye out for young Alfie Keane, who showed excellent technique until being dismissed by an excellent low catch by Ben Knights
James Speakman wrapped things up with a late wicket, as Coppice restricted Blackpool to 139-5 to complete a 56-run win and 10 points.