The second half of the season officially began last Saturday and Great Melton are still looking for their first win.

The local derby with Hethersett and Tas Valley continued in much the same way as the rest of Melton's season with the batsmen again failing to make an impact.

Richard Waddell's decision to bat first after winning the toss looked a good one on a hot afternoon but only Aaron Garner with 55 and Joe Bickel with 34 showed any real resistance as Melton were dismissed for just 155.

Luke Marchant's 4-19 ensured the visitors wouldn't have things all their own way but the visitors won by four wickets.

There were no batting problems for the A team, however, as they scored 245-9 at Horsford B with Tim Hales (24), Woody Loines (38), Martin Bunn (46), James Robb (33) and Matt Henderson (35) all making good contributions. An excellent spell of 9-3-18-3 from Chris Wright, two wickets for Henderson and one each for Kyle Mason, Josh Wright and James Robb then ensured Horsford finished on 224-8, 21 runs short. The win keeps Melton in third place in Alliance Division Five.

Melton's other two Saturday sides just fell short against Great Ellingham and Bystanders A respectively. The Bs lost by one run to give bottom-of-the-table Ellingham their first win of the season. Despite 42 from John Mills, Ellingham were struggling a bit on 157-8 but a late partnership between Robert George (54) and Richard Smith (18) took the home side to a challenging 205 all out. Youngsters Saxon Earley (3-16) and Caitlin Ellis (2-56) were again among the wickets but Kyle Weston with figures of 10-2-25-0 was Melton's most impressive bowler. Lee Whiddett (24), Phil Bugg (33), Nick Gristwood (30) and Matt Rushton (19) all got in, then got out to leave Melton on 162-8 before a ninth wicket stand between Weston and 12-year-old Corey Rushton very nearly brought Melton victory. With the score on 204, Rushton was run out for 25 leaving with Melton just two runs short.

Dropped catches undoubtedly cost the C team the match against Bystanders. At least six fairly straightforward chances were put down as Bystanders got up to 211-5.

Young Sam Johnson hit some excellent shots in an impressive 57, his maiden half century, as Melton finished on 196-9. It was good to see Melton's president Nick Evans-Lombe playing his first game for the club.

Ben Mann scored 75, George Bunn 58 and Connor Stearman 26 as the Sunday side made 207 against Barney and Fulmodeston then, despite Jacob Seed's 82, Melton dismissed the home side for 192 to win by 15 runs (James Robb 4-31).