On Saturday Larne second XI, who are sponsored by The Kiln, suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of County down side Laurelvale.

The toss was won by the home skipper who had no hesitation in sending Larne in to bat on an underprepared and soft pitch. Larne were soon in trouble when Neil Hodge and Wylie McKinty were back in the pavilion with only 27 runs on the board. The situation was somewhat rescued when Tony Anderson and Brian Spence batted sensibly for the next 10 overs as they picked up the scoring rate and had relatively few alarms.

Anderson, who had earlier been struck by a full toss on the foot, was now beginning to struggle with his injury and after batting well for 20 overs he hit a full toss straight into the point fielder's hands. Clearly inconvenienced by his injury, Anderson had shown great courage in battling on without a runner and was dismissed for 36. Ken McKinley was out soon after when he was undone by the slow pace of the pitch and was adjudged LBW for 0.

Spence and Larne's skipper Gary Moore put together a partnership of 36 for the 5th wicket but just as Larne were beginning to get on top Moore became the second player out LBW for 16. This was the start of a mini collapse as another 3 wickets feel quickly and Larne were reeling on 117 for 8 with ten overs to go.

Sensible batting by Stephen "Gripper" McDonald, who hit 17, saw the Larne total up to 138, a total Larne were happy with, given the pitch condition.

After tea Larne set out to defend their 138 runs lead but some wayward bowling at the start of the Laurelvale innings gifted runs to the opening batsmen, Best and Thornbury. They raced along at 4 runs per over and it was only with the introduction of Paddy Hegarty and Eddie Hunter that the brakes were put on the scoring rate. Hegarty, who was suffering with stiffness in his shoulder and possible ankle ligament damage, bowled an immaculate line and length but it was Hunter how made the breakthrough when he had Thornbury caught by the hobbling Tony Anderson.

Larne still struggled to pick up any wickets but the scoring rate was now in control and it was only when Anderson was asked to bowl that more wickets fell. Bowling off little more than one step, the incapacitated Anderson picked up 2 wickets for 10 runs in a 9 over spell. It was however too little to late as Laurelvale were able to crawl to the winning margin of 139 runs in the 45th over. Mention must be made of the fielding of Neil Hodge whose fielding at cover was one of the highlights of the Larne fielding.

This weekend the seconds play host to Downpatrick at Sandy Bay on Saturday and travel to Derriaghy on Sunday.

Scoreboard :-

Larne - 138 all out (T. Anderson 36, B. Spence 23, D. Henry 3-32)

Laurelvale - 139 for 4 (W. Best 61, G. Thornbury 31, T. Anderson 2-10)

Laurelvale won by 6 wickets.