Rockhampton are through to Round 3 of the Voneus Village Cup after a thrilling 18 run win at Corse & Staunton.

After being put in to bat first, the Rams got off to a slow start as they lost early wickets cheaply. However they fought back from 71/5 to post a very challenging total of 167/9 from their 40 overs, with teenage wicketkeeper George Driver-Dickerson leading the recovery with an excellent 51 and a handy cameo of 31 from Chris Willoughby.

The defence began superbly for the visitors as Chris Pearce cleaned bowled Cox and the dangerous Dannatt cheaply in an explosive opening spell. Corse’s Goolden (30) and Hutchings (22) took the score past 50 before Rockhampton captain Martin Cropper started a middle order collapse with their dismissals, as he picked up 4 for 34. From 56/3 to 78/7, the hosts found themselves reeling but lower order resistance from Jones (28) and Brown (25) set up a nervous finish. It wasn’t to be for the home side as they were bowled out for 149, falling just 18 runs short in a Village Cup classic. 2013 finalists Rockhampton will host Painswick in Round 3 on Sunday 23rd.