STAND Cricket Club got its 2004 CLL season under way against Royton at Hamilton Road on Sunday.

The visitors won the toss and put Stand into bat, in what were ideal conditions.

Royton made two early breakthroughs, with Taylor and Wright dismissed with the score at just 20.

Warren and Seedle then moved the score on to 48 off 17 overs, before Warren fell to Royton professional Iqbal Imam, for 15.

Undaunted Seedle battled on, hitting seven boundaries on his way to a top-score of 44. He was then caught in the deep, one shot away from a half-century with his side on 95-5.

Alex Beirne added a useful 16 and late order contributions from Bond and Sutcliffe carried the home side onto 131 all out, off 46.3 overs.

Imam was the pick of the visitors attack, finishing with 4-24, with Glen Dickinson 4-51.

Royton got their run chase off to a good start, reaching 34, before Shah claimed his debut wicket, trapping Gibbons leg-before for 17.

Only five more runs were added before Carl Sutcliffe dismissed Ward for 13, with his first ball of the season

Shah then claimed the prize wicket of the Royton pro, and the visitors looked shaky on 56.

Left arm spinner Mike Yull then claimed the first two wickets of his Stand career, bowling overseas amateur Pearce (9) and removing Clarke (caught Paul Wilkinson) and the visitors were struggling on 79-5.

Shah claimed his third wicket, bowling Harding for 7.

But a crucial 31-run partnership between Hughes and Whelan swung the game back in Royton's favour, and although Sutcliffe claimed a further two wickets (Hughes and Whelan), the visitors ensured victory in the 46th over, although with 26, the extras column emerged the visitors' top score.

Shah was the pick of the Stand bowlers, with 3-41 from 23 overs. Yull picked up 2-15 and Sutcliffe claimed 3-34.

It was a spirited performance and there were a lot of positives to take from the game, from Stand's's perspective,

This weekend the first XI travel to Unsworth on Saturday for the first of this season's derbies, and on Saturday entertain Werneth on at Hamilton Road.

The 3rd XI are also in action entertain Heywood at home on Bank Holiday Monday.