FORDHAM S inexorable march to the top continued at the weekend as all three of their impressive sides registered victories. The start of the season was a mixed one for Fordham with some portentous victories tempered by a few disappointing losses. In recen

FORDHAM'S inexorable march to the top continued at the weekend as all three of their impressive sides registered victories.

The start of the season was a mixed one for Fordham with some portentous victories tempered by a few disappointing losses. In recent weeks, however, all three teams have found their feet and have begun to string together a run of notable victories.

Fordham 1st XI got the ball rolling at the weekend with a 61 run success over a determined Yaxley side.

Having won the toss, the stage seemed set for total of sizeable magnitude for Fordham, especially given that openers Gavin Harding (61) and Mark Silcock (28) caressed their way to an opening stand of 99.

With the demise of the opening pair however, came a disappointing failure from the rest of the line-up to really seize the reigns of their ascendancy. With the exception of a well-crafted knock of 35 from Mark Abbott, there was little else of note as the home side ended their 48 overs on 190-9.

Early wickets from Ian Jelleyman and Clinton Cornwell gave Fordham the plum hand in reply but a mini-revival led by Clark (37) and Claypole (28) threatened to dampen the fires of the home sides early success.

That is, until the introduction f Sri Lankan wizard Gnik, who stunned the opposition with an unprecedented spell of bowling that saw him pick up 6-20 and, with it, the victory.

Fordham 2nd XI meanwhile fought off an admirable late charge from Wilburton to secure a 30 run win.

Ian Baldwin's unbeaten 103, including 13 fours and three sixes, saw the visitors to 243-4 from their 40 overs, a decent scoring rate of more than six an over, which was doubtlessly aided by the good work of acting skipper Neil Clark who made a quick fire 57.

Wilburton were determined in reply and contributions of 72 from Ian Jacobs and 42 from Andy Buller kept them in with a sniff of victory as the game progressed.

Any hopes of a home victory were soon quashed though, by the fiercely accurate bowling of Phil Dean who followed up his seven wicket haul of last week with 3-29 to take the game away from the plucky home side.

Fordham 3rd XI completed a successful weekend's cricket for the club as they beat Bar Hill by a sizeable nine wicket margin.

The visitors dismissed their Cambridge based opponents for a mere 81 as Carl Houghton ran riot on the way to his haul of four wickets for 32 runs.

Fordham were clinical in reply and a quick fire knock of 20 from Simon Murfitt and 38 from Rob Jones secured the victory.