ROCKHAMPTON were denied victory by James Williams’ quick-fire 46 not out down the order for Marshfield.

After being asked to bat first, Rockhampton openers looked in good shape before Will Tyler (14) played around a straight one.

Simon Hore (12) hit one majestic six before being stumped trying to repeat the shot, and Rowan Cartlidge quickly followed him back to the Pavilion for a fluent 25.

Matt Tyler (18) and Jerry White (6) did their best to consolidate in the face of good bowling from Wayne Pascall in particular, but runs were hard to come by, and they fell in quick succession to leave Rockhampton on 71-5.

The team looked to rely on the lower middle order for the second week running. Nigel Hopkins and Jack Spence duly delivered, showing solid defence whilst picking off any poor deliveries.

As they looked to push on in the last five overs, Hopkins (28) was run out by a bullet throw from the outfield but Spence (40) continued to find the boundaries leading Rockhampton to a defendable total.

Will Cartlidge (3-0-21-1) got the second innings off to the perfect start for Rockhampton, dismissing Matt Hobbs in the first over, and when Pearce (4-0-15-1) trapped William Johnson lbw in the second, Marshfield looked in some trouble.

However, Dave Jenkins and Pascall played confidently, deciding attack was the best form of defence on the slow damp wicket taking Marshfield to 68-2.

Mark Beale (7-0-42-1) then dismissed Pascall before Matt Tyler (11.5-4-40-4) ripped through the middle order in an impressive spell of pace bowling.

Tyler’s aggression was complimented by a miserly spell of slow bowling from James Hancox (15-4-26-1), and when he picked up Simon Beckett, Marshfield were teetering on 106-8.

Dangerous batsman Williams, down the order due to a back stain, had other ideas.

He smashed 46 off only 28 balls with Tyler and Beale on the receiving end of his aggressive stroke play as he led his team to victory.