After three consecutive rained off matches, this weekend's victory over Northwood Town came as a huge relief to Northchurch 2s. Over the past month they've come close to beating both Offley and Radlett before rain has intervened.

Wins over those two teams would have meant Northchurch were right back in the hunt for promotion, but all they can do now is win their remaining games and hope those above them slip up.

Therefore a 110 run victory for the Second XI on Saturday was the ideal start to their run in, as the season draws to a close. It was Jack Randall and Ben Pyne who were key to Northchurch's victory. The latter picked up his best bowling figures for the club, claiming four wickets for just 23 runs, whilst Randall stood out with bat in hand once more. He scored 60 as Northchurch were able to reach a hugely competitive total on a difficult batting track.

This weekend saw league cricket return to 50 overs, a format which has suited the 2s greatly this season, and that was backed up by their performance this weekend. Skipper Harry Chapman sent his men in to bat, and despite a few concerning moments were still able to reach a total of 207 for 8.

The Northwood opening bowlers bowled tight lines up front, and had two relatively quick wickets. Ben Towler was the first to fall, as he was bowled by Shahmeer Syed for a duck. Syed was to remove both of Northchurch's openers, as Jimmy Smart fell for 10 a few overs later.

It was down to debutant Bruno Rost and Randall to steady the Northchurch ship, and they were able to bring their side back into a more promising position. However Rost was unfortunately run-out attempting a quick second, as he departed for 11.

Randall has played some key innings already this season, and his 60 runs this weekend was exemplary of his form throughout the summer. He hit eight fours during his knock, before picking out the fielder off the bowling of Ravi Kotecha. Before that, Ronak Patel was caught off the same bowler for 11 runs.

Ryan Smart had put together a strong partnership with Randall, but like the latter, picked out the fielder going for a big shot. He was out for 29, an innings that included two fours and one six. Chapman and Pyne then fell in quick succession for ducks as the score stuttered around the 160 mark.

However Matt Dawson and Adam Forshaw were able to dig in, and put on a partnership of 50 for the ninth wicket which took Northchurch beyond 200. The highlight of the partnership being a big six from the bat of Forshaw, a shot that raised the biggest cheer of the day from the 2s players.

Northchurch knew they had a hugely competitive total, but in response were able to bowl the opposition out for just 97 in 31.3 overs.

Randall bowled well opening the bowling, but it was Pyne who was the pick of the bowlers. In his opening spell he picked up three wickets, the first of which was a caught and bowled in his first over to remove Anaukat. He would then have Ravi Ramawat caught in the covers by Rost for just three, before Bacakrishna hit one straight to Jimmy Smart as he went without scoring.

Chapman bowled his usual tight lines, and claimed two victims. One of them was the key wicket of opener, Patel, the only Northwood batsman to show any resistance as he was caught by Smart for 37. Dawson also bowled well, and picked up three wickets for just three runs, bowling K Patel with his very first ball, before trapping S Patel LBW for just four. His final wicket was that of Sumeet Khetia as he bowled him for one.

Junior Harry Bennie was making his league debut for Northchurch and bowled well at the end as the 2s went in search of the final wickets. He didn't pick up any, but bowled nicely from his 2.3 overs. Pyne returned to pick up one more wicket, bowling Shah, but was potentially denied five when the final wicket saw Northwood's number eight run-out.

It was a very promising all round display from the Second XI, and it builds them in good stead going into the final weeks of the 2017 season.