RUGBY prevailed in their Warwickshire County Premier Division derby against Coventry & North Warwickshire, winning by 79 runs at Binley Road.
The hosts were set a target of 256, having decided to field first, but were all out for 176 inside 41 overs.
Rugby’s Wes Landsdale (76) and Michael Powell (65) provided the bulk of their side’s runs.
Jeevan Barhey (39) shared a stand of 59 alongside opener Charlie Robards (24) for the second wicket, whilst the middle order trio of Owen Edwards (30), Landsdale and Powell fired 23 boundary hits and three sixes between them.
With Coventry hopes looking glum at 49-4, the combination of 63 runs between skipper Vikram Sodhi (39) and Anit Kaushik (43) reinvigorated the home side somewhat.
But only tailenders George Neal (22 not out), Sameer Vohra (12, lbw) and Jaspal Phull (12) of the remaining batters achieed double figures for Coventryv & NW, and it was no surprise as to why Rugby headed home with the victory.
Rugby skipper Matthew Ewer took 3-33 and Landsdale 3-40.
Sitting fifth in the standings, Ewer’s team now host seventh-placed Attock hoping to extend their winning run to nine games
RUGBY were also in friendly action, as the club’s fourth team fell to a six-wicket defeat at Willoughby.
Taking on the hosts’ Saturday XI, Rugby hit 175-9 after winning the toss, though Willoughby got past their target with four overs to spare.
Opener Augustus Wenham (51no) retired after achieving a half-century, and Sachin Ward added 36 at number three.
There was not quite the same firepower lower down Rugby’s batting line-up, with double figures only achieved by Charlie Harlow (11), Jessica Naylor (13) and Matt Raffell (15no).
Willoughby opener Dan Farrow (51no) gave the reply a solid start before retiring and the hosts had considerably stronger support through skipper Ben Hollis (32) and Matthew McQuillan (27 to secure victory.
Willoughby’s first team head to Podington Seconds on Saturday in their Northamptonshire League Division Six meeting.
