MONMOUTH Cricket Club made their debut in the Worcester County League on a victorious note, with a seven wicket win over Tenbury Wells 2nds.

Monmouth won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first on Tenbury's compact ground.

Wells found it hard to make runs on a slow, damp pitch against the hostile and accurate bowling of Monmouth's opening attack of Jonathan Roberts (2-13) and James Davies (3-16), who were both challenging and economical.

The pair were well supported by the first change bowler Ian MacKinlay (2-23) and spinners Aled Jones (1-27), who took a wicket with his first ball, and David Teague (2-18). Scoring was slow and home wickets fell steadily - Tenbury were later seven wickets down with only one batsman having made double figures.

But the home side were rescued from collapse by a belligerent innings from David Gordon who, although playing and missing several times against the spinners, managed not to lose his wicket and later scored a rousing 53 runs mostly in sixes and fours.

The reintroduction of pace to the Mon-mouth attack brought Gor-don's lonely charge to a very abrupt end with Rob-erts's third ball of his second spell knocking back Gordon's middle stump and the innings was virtually over.

The visitors' reply got off to a good start with Rob Prewitt and Wayne Etheridge putting on 46 for the first wicket, but Tenbury made an early change from pace to spin which proved a good move.

Derek James exploited the variable bounce of the pitch very well to take three precious wickets in quick succession, leaving Monmouth looking decidedly a little shaky at 59-3.

But Teague and skipper Dan Head came together and batted with a judicious balance of defensive patience and aggression, treating the good deliveries with care whilst waiting to score off the looser ones. Then con-fidence grew and they re-mained un-defeated to motor pass Tenbury's score in the 31st over.

Derek James was Tenbury's best bowler with 3-15.

This was a good start to Monmouth's season, which will please their growing number of backers and supporters, which will also include their sponsors Misbah Tandoori.

Monmouth now travel again this weekend to Worcester Dominies and will be looking to continue their perfect debut.