White Coppice’s 2026 season lasted only 15 overs before their friendly game vs Whittle & Clayton-le-Woods on Saturday was abandoned after a mix of hail and rain.
For the 1st XI, there were plenty of positives to take from the play that was possible, including a debut for new signing Tom Sandells.
With captain Jake Smalley away celebrating his 30th birthday, Ryan Adderley stepped in as captain but the home side were quickly in trouble at 4-3.
A slimline Bobby Wood cracked the first ball of the season through the covers for two off his former team-mate David Bath.
However, Bath didn’t have to wait long to exact his revenge when Wood cut the very next ball to point.
The run-a-ball two was a significant improvement on the first ball duck he got last season in the opening friendly against Charnock Richard.
The visitors’ bowlers were very economical and Russ Millhouse got a real seed off Andy Brooks to be caught behind for 0.
Ant Dark was also bowled for 0 as White Coppice slipped to 4-3.
Chris Maguire dug in for 23 balls but after breaking the shackles with a straight driven four, he was bowled for six two balls later trying to repeat the shot.
Sandells looked in good touch before he was smartly caught at slip for six, leaving Adderley (13 not out) and Ibby Akram (four not out) as Coppice reached 43-5 before the rain had the final say.
