CANON Frome began their Marches League Division One season by fielding against Monmouth and got off to a fine start when Chris Styles removed opener Grey with his second ball, having already dropped him off the second ball of the match.

Fellow opening bat Hyde soon also departed to Styles' bowling, Nick Fox taking a well judged catch. Andy Rogers took his first League wicket following his return to the Club thanks to a flying catch in the gully by agile youngster Neil Andrews and when Darren Meredith bowled Monmouth skipper Head for six, Monmouth were struggling on 81-4.

However, some lusty blows by Jones, Newell and Davies pushed them towards full batting points. Jones eventually became Neil Andrews' second wicket when he was bowled in the 43rd over for a hard hitting 75. Rogers returned to the attack to claim two more wickets as Monmouth ended on 207-9.

The home side chased their target with early gusto as skipper Rhod Mence and Chris Styles put on a stand of 111 for the first wicket before Mence holed out for 61 which contained six 6s and two 4s. Rob Mence returning from early retirement looked as though he'd never been away but he was bowled for 10. When Styles played on for 63 (two 6's, six 4's), Frome had progressed to 145 - 3.

Roger Helme and Nick Fox both fell for ducks as Frome stuttered to 153-5 but youngster James Hughes and not quite so young Neil Andrews began to make a recovery and a push for victory. However when Andrews departed for 37 (a 6 and three 4's), Frome's lower order collapsed as 184-6 became 190-9 with Andy Rogers run out without facing a ball, debutante Karl Chapman caught for three and Hughes also caught for seven.

Marcus Ran and Darren Meredith held out for the final overs, pushing the total on to 200 for maximum batting points, Meredith scoring his first League runs for three seasons, including a boundary.

Frome picked up 11 points and can be satisfied by an excellent team performance.