HOLDERS Upperthong are out of this season’s Romida Examiner Cup for Under 13s at the first round stage.

After batting first, they were knocked out by Holme Valley rivals Thongsbridge.

Upperthong struggled against some accurate bowling and were all out for 71, with Josh Ratcliffe claiming the bowling honours for Thongsbridge by taking three wickets for four runs.

In reply, Thomas Webster held the Thongsbridge innings together and retired on 25 – and his team were able to score the required runs in 16 overs, losing only two wickets.

The Upperthong B team showed their A team colleagues how to go about things by beating Shelley by over 100 runs.

They posted a score of 133 before skittling Shelley for just 17, with James Emmet doing the main damage with three for nought.

There were some close games in the opening round.

Slaithwaite just pipped Delph by five runs. Delph needed 16 runs off the last two Slaithwaite overs and weren’t able to manage it.

Edward Garside and Kyle Hey both retired for Slaithwaite and Bradley Cruse for Delph.

At Holmfirth, Clayton West narrowly came out on top by 10 runs, helped by 35 extras and the Holmfirth bowlers conceding 24 wides!

Tom Radley and Josh England top scored for Clayton West and Harry Bissett for Holmfirth.

In a high-scoring game at Hall Bower, both teams topped 125 runs.

Bower finished on 139 with four batters retiring, while Green Moor put up a good chase, closing on 128 with Joe Goddard and Tom Burgess retiring.

The next round is due to be played by June 3, but clubs are advised to arrange games as soon as possible because of the Spring Bank holiday.