PYRFORD'S quest for victory number 13 to begin the Surrey County League season looked unlucky for long periods before they prevailed in an 18-run win away to Croydon MO last Saturday. The match will be remembered by Chris Foggo, who made an invaluable 37, for many reasons - but the least likely would be the comparison with a Bermuda umpire.

"They complained about our umpire but their umpire was the worst I have seen," Foggo said. "He was even worse than 'Red' (Richard) Burrows. They must have just picked him up from somewhere and put him in the middle because he was terrible. Our captain is definitely going to report him to the league."

Although a number of his colleagues could feel aggrieved with their dismissals, Foggo had no gripes after Croydon MO's left-arm spinner bowled him. But his contribution was essential as the first division leaders crept to a modest 140 on a pitch of uneven bounce, with the questionable playing conditions worsened by the absence of sightscreens.

"We knew runs were going to be hard to come by," Foggo added. "We figured we would need between 150 and 160 to be safe." The promotion favourites were 90 for four when Foggo came to the wicket, after more than 30 overs of graft, and the pattern changed little throughout the Bermudian's innings, the end of which prompted a three-wicket collapse for no runs.

Croydon MO, who entered the match in 14th place, began their reply with the gusto of a side that fancied their chance of a big upset. But their aggression proved equally to bring their downfall as wickets fell at regular intervals, with Nadeem Afzaal, Pyrford's overseas professional, returning a seven-wicket haul to keep their lead over Kingstonian at 11 points.

Foggo enjoyed further success in the Western Union Trophy third round where BWIA recorded a crushing 230-run win over Holmwood. Foggo, with 60, was one of four players to have scored half-centuries as the holders amassed 366 for seven in 40 overs. Runs were on the menu in the Warwickshire Cricket League first division as well but Atherstone Town found themselves feeling the brunt of the blade in their match away to Aston Manor. The home side racked up 297 for seven in their allotted 50 overs and Atherstone responded with 223 for eight to settle for a losing draw.

With 15 points from the fixture to Atherstone's eight, Aston Manor closed the gap on the eighth-placed team to 18 points and Noel Gibbons, the Atherstone player-coach, accepts now that his side will have to improve markedly to steer clear of the relegation zone.

"I don't know why they (Aston Manor) are down there because they look like a very good all-round team," he said. "But like us they had a bad first half of the season. We can't afford to slip from here because the way they are playing they'll walk past us."

Gibbons suffered his first batting failure in almost a month when he was caught in slips after scoring only one run, the Atherstone run chase stuttering almost before it began. "Our first plan was to try to win," Gibbons said. "It was not a big field; straight it was short but the square boundaries were long. But we lost early wickets and had to alter our plans."

Defeat appeared imminent at 140 for eight but an unbroken partnership between Jody Peacock, the number eight batsman, who made 82, and Martin Cooper (22) saved the day. Ryan Steede, who claimed two for 78 from 19 overs in the Aston Manor innings, made 20, his second-highest league score of the season.

Elsewhere, Dorridge, the league leaders, rebounded from the shock defeat of the previous week to record an impressive eight-wicket victory over Berkswell, who made 263 for nine in their 50 overs. Dorridge's lead is up to 39 points, after Coleshill were held to a winning draw by Kenilworth's tenth-wicket pairing. Atherstone are eight points behind Kenilworth and seven behind Nuneaton, whom they face in a much-anticipated derby match-up tomorrow.

Another week in the Surrey Championship third division brought more frustration for Southern Railway who had to settle for their fifth draw in succession, four of which when they appeared on the brink of victory. But unlike the previous week when the slip-up allowed them to move up to third, last Saturday's draw at home to Chipstead & Coulsdon saw the Mollison Drive side drop to joint fourth and 26 points outside the promotion places with only six matches remaining.

Railway batted first after losing the toss and scored well again, with 240 for four in 48 overs. Yours Truly made 65 to continue a scoring sequence of having made fifty or more in the past four innings, with Ray Tudor, brother of the England bowler, Alex, unbeaten on 64. Chipstead responded with 191 for eight from 51 overs as Railway paid for dropping the number ten batsman with six overs remaining. Tomorrow's match is away to Dulwich, the league leaders. Anything less than a victory would leave thoughts of promotion somewhere out there in the distance.

I cannot comment too much on the upcoming Cup Match because I have not witnessed any cricket on the Bermuda scene but I do welcome the selection of the four colts. While I hope that Sheridan Ming, Peter Philpott and Travis Smith make significant contributions to the Annual Classic, the new boy I will be pulling for most is Dennis Pilgrim, for he, more than any player out there, reminds me of myself - an honest, hard-working and reliable player who refuses to allow the limitations of his game to prove a lasting handicap.

It has taken him a while to get his due recognition but now the boy has arrived, first at the national level, and now at Cup Match - the way it was meant to be done.