For the first time in many years the weather allowed a game against the Bradford Schoolmasters to be played, although conditions were far from ideal. It was dark and got darker as the game went on, and the pitch was extremely damp and got wetter as the several light showers came and went during the course of play.

After a brief huddle to introduce the team to one another, James C and Andy Vickerstaff got the innings off to a solid start, playing watchfully with the ball doing a bit off the damp wicket. After a few relative quiet overs, Andy started to pick up the pace, smashing a few boundaries. James C was replaced by Will who slotted nicely into the support role. Andy picked up the tempo further and was soon thumping 4s and 6s at will. Kev replaced Will, and was soon giving Andy some solid support, snaring a few boundaries of his own. Andy's 50 came and went, which got the team debating whether there was something in the name of Andy that makes them hit a cricket ball quite so hard. The onslaught continued and soon the team's century was passed with a generous helping of overs still to be bowled. The rest of the team, huddling together to keep out of the rain and biting wind, started to debate how long they should leave it before Andy retired so that there would still be something of a game. Eventually Duncan made up is mind with Andy having made an impressive 79 not out! Owain, Duncan, and Paul W all came and went quickly so it was left to Kev and John H to finish off the innings, getting the venturers to a very respectable 134-5 off 18 overs.

With every moment meaning conditions got even darker, the Venturers took to the field with first Duncan and then Rob keeping things tight with their opening spells. Duncan soon got the first break-through and this brought Adam D to the crease. Bradford were short of players so Adam had sportingly agreed to help make up their numbers. Both batsmen found scoring quite difficult as Duncan rotated his bowlers, bringing in John H, Steve Penrose, and then Anura into the attack. All bowled tight economic spells with wickets falling at regular intervals, helped by some relatively good fielding from the Venturers with Andy V, Will B and Rob taking solid catches as Bradford tried to pick-up the scoring. First Paul W. and then Will took a bit of tap as their lower-order impressively pick up the scoring, hitting boundaries to all parts of the park. Fortunately for the venturers, Bradford left their charge a few overs too late and in the long sinced faded light, Will was able to keep things tight enough in the last over for new captain Duncan, and the rest of the team, to claim a win in the first game of the season. Bradford were only able to reach 119-5 of their 18 overs, giving the venturers a solid 15 run victory.