IT was a weekend of mixed fortunes for Droitwich Spa Cricket Club First XI with the joys of victory and the gloom of defeat.

Steve Walsh's side suffered their first loss last Saturday, a four-wicket defeat at Kington, but returned to see off Pershore on Bank Holiday Monday by five wickets.

Spa batted first at Kington and were quickly reduced to 25-4 with Australian Shaun Johnston taking the first three wickets with some excellent swing-bowling.

Backed up by the experienced Kevin Gwynne, Spa struggled in the early exchanges and at 55-6 in the 26th over, a total under 100 was looking a possibility.

Stability was provided by the returning Paul Bryan and Mike Gunston. Playing his first game of the season, Bryan rescued Spa from their perilous position and produced an excellent innings of 62 not out. Gunston was dismissed for 18, having helped Bryan to take the score to 108.

Walsh (30no) joined Bryan and Spa's captain added some much needed urgency as the visitors posted a competitive total of 163.

Spa gave themselves every chance of victory by reducing Kington to 25-2 thanks to Adrian Field and Chetan Soma picking up the early wickets.

Spin success from Martin Woodward and Gunston eventually left Kington on 143-6 with seven overs left. But luck was not with Walsh's side and Ed Symmonds took full advantage of a failed LBW appeal and saw the hosts home with two overs to spare.

Spa bowled first against Pershore and were in the ascendancy as the visitors struggled on 21-2.

Lee Wilks (52) and Arno Botha (42) steadily recovered the innings and took the score to 113 before both were removed by Gary Cartwright (5-50) in consecutive overs. Pershore were restricted to a modest 172-8.

In reply Soma and Dave Scott-Walker formed an excellent partnership of 98 until Scott-Walker was caught for 46.

Ian Duggan's dismissal was a slight glitch, but Soma and Stuart Bryan saw Spa home with ten overs left.