The 2008 finally started after last weeks weather induced false start, with Coal Aston visiting . Something of an overhaul of the team has occurred in the winter with several new faces to the squad made their debuts or returned to the club. That any action took place at all is testament to the groundstaff as the pitch was under water on Thursday evening, and the 'tinge' of green was there for all to see when the players arrived.

(The 2nds line up pre-match. Back row from left - Dave Rodgers, Tom Steel, Dan Harley, Bob Cummins, Carl Jones, Will Cooper. Front row from left - Adam Thorpe, Devan Dippenaar, Andy Humphreys (c), Katie Levick, Tom Knight.)

Desperate to win the toss, skipper Humphreys, in his 3rd season at the helm, was disappointed to see that tails never fails and the opposing skipper inserted the home side. This was to be an early test of the intensive netting that had gone on for the previous 2 months. Stalwart Cummins and his regular partner Harley looked for a positive start to the season and to boost the confidence of the youthful looking home side.

This they did with a 1st wicket partnership of 40, before the introduction of spin led to Harley downfall chipping to mid on for 23. Rodgers fell shortly after, leading to the arrival of new recruit Devan Dippenaar, playing his first game in over 2 years following a serious knee injury. He and Cummins advanced the total to 79, before Cummins was stumped for a characteristic 41. Jones and Steel followed in quick succession bringing the skipper to the crease. He and Dippenaar appeared to take particular liking to the bowling, before Humphreys mistimed a full bunger to square leg - 121-6. The inexperienced tail wagged only slightly, although Will Cooper looked confident, supporting 'Dips' to a valuable half-century until the latter became 'keeper Millington's 3rd stumping victim. The last 3 wickets did not realise a single run as 155-7 became 155ao with 9 balls left in the innings, Timms the pick of the attack with an impressive 4-21 from 10 overs.

The fielding session had to be more impressive than the batting had been, but the visitors were also determined after the previous weeks performance and an opening stand of 65 appeared between Lockwood and Simpson. This was not done without chances being presented, but not taken. The seam attack of Steel, Thorpe and Cooper bowled well, without luck and the Coal Aston plan appeared to be to keep wickets in the shed for a dart at the end. The introduction of debutant Katie Levick and spin twin Tom Knigt turned the tide. Knight took 2 wickets in two balls, both caught by Thorpe from poor sweep shots and Katie followed this up with her first wicket for United's mens teams with Timms well snapped up by evergreen Cummins at slip. As the run rate climbed - a point oft repeated by Dips just in case the batsmen forgot - shots became more desperate. Two stumpings, again off Knight and a further run-out left Coal Aston struggling, but with the short boundary, Humphreys was loath to attack too much and in the end both sides settled for a 5-1 scoreline. Knight finished with a splendid 4-31 return and Levick an encouraging 1-41 that did not do her full justice.

A confident start to the Division 2 season, particularly following on from successive double relegations and then double promotions. The side displayed a lack of experience with the willow, but the exuberance and determination in the field was highly encouraging. This has the potential for an entertaining season for United, with plenty of ups and downs. How the young squad will react to the downs will be key.