CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE!

23/09/03: The OLCC capped a superb Loire Valley Tour with wins over both the host side Saumur and Weston Royals.

The OLs kicked off the 30-overs-per-side triangular tournament with a game against Saumur and, having been invited to field first, conceded what was seen as a respectable 164-5, in which Julian Shackel claimed three for 44 from his six overs.

John Acland-Hood (37) and guest Simon Pullen (16) gave the OLs an ideal platform with 66 for the first wicket and after a mid-innings slump to 91-4, Jonny Shingles (21*) and Charlie Allan (46*) swept the side to a six-wicket victory, the latter finishing proceedings with a superb six.

It proved to be a taste of things to come as Allan, batting at number eight in the following match against Weston, rescued the OLCC from 63-6 and 89-7 with a barnstorming innings of 67 that featured six sixes and two fours.

Allan and Shingles (21*) helped the OLs post another competitive score of 169-8, although this total looked under threat as Weston reached 77-1 after 13 overs.

But Paul Newell Price then came on for a stunning spell of bowling that earned him figures of 6-2-15-6, the second best figures in the history of the club, and restricted Weston to 155-8 to give the OLs a 14-run victory.

In the final game, Weston (166-8) lost to Saumur (169-7) by three wickets.

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