The Hawkswood Royals U13's hardball team have won their first full match of the season after the opening day wash out at Quedgeley and Hardwicke.

Facing a good Cheltenham side Captain Charlotte won the toss and elected to bat.
Charlotte and Cerys opened the batting and did fantastically well to 'see off' a great opening four over spell from Cheltenham's two best bowlers.
With a 'solid platform' built and pressure absorbed Cerys was the first wicket to fall after a battling performance.
As Cheltenham varied their bowling attack Charlotte and then Georgina started to score quickly, Charlotte retiring on 26 and Georgina on 28, with some mighty blows dished out between them!.
Ada, Lila and Evie G continued the charge with some fabulous shots and running. The wickets gradually fell, Ellie getting a peach of a delivery, leaving final pair Martha and Ava to finish off the innings. The girls both finished 'not out' and added some more vital runs, Hawkswood closing on 110-5 from their 16 overs, a competitive total.

Cerys opened the bowling for the Royals and with her second ball bowled one of the Cheltenham openers with an amazing in swinging delivery. A brilliant start! Cheltenham fought back though, with their number two and three batters scoring 17 and 26. Dangerous opening bat B Cansdale was finally dismissed by an astonishing catch by Ada off Georgina's bowling. Ada sprinting and catching an absolute skier!
Some great cricket from both teams and another great catch from Charlotte off Evie G's bowling meant Cheltenham were ahead of the run rate at the halfway point of their innings and the game was in the balance...

Some accomplished tight bowling from Ellie, Lila, Martha and Ava - who picked up another vital wicket bowled - took the game right down to the wire!
Cheltenham needed 10 off the last over (6 balls) to win...
Up stepped Evie G and under incredible pressure bowled a match winning over of accurate deliveries conceding just 1 run!
The Royals won by 9!
Well done all the girls on a fantastic team performance and Evie G at the end for 'holding her nerve' and being the pick of the bowlers with 2 overs for just 2 runs and 1 wicket.