The smiles returned to Clifton faces on Cup Sunday, with both sides tasting victory to move into round 2 with some ease.
The firsts looked to avoid elimination at the hands of lower league opposition for a second successive year with former B&DCA rivals Elton from Premier Division 2 visiting Manchester Road.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Sam Dorsey sprung the first surprise of the day by, in the absence of several players, choosing 3rd XI skipper Steve McManus to open the innings with Matt Van Dyk. That confidence in Mac proved well placed as they shared an opening stand of 71 inside 16 overs that set the platform for an imposing total of 277-5 in the allotted 45 overs. With Matty(77) scoring a double of half centuries for the weekend and Jack Stanley (51)Ben Hamilton (43) and the skipper (62) piling on the agony for the visitors ona feather bed of a wicket.
Elton's response was spirited, led by former Cliftoner, Ryan Barker, whose 87 was the top score of the day, and despite being handily placed at 139-1 to mount a challenge, the huge total proved unassailable after the introduction of spinners Ben Hamilton and Liam Dorsey whose 18 overs between them registered five wickets for 72 runs, which strangled the visitors' middle order and left them flailing to keep up the run rate as they crumbled to 177 all out in the 39th over.
Finally Finlay Testa added three wickets at the death and Jordy Higham chipped in with a cameo 2-12 to secure a spot in the draw for the second round. Credit too must go to Dan Higham who, despite being wicketless on the day, did much to further build the pressure at the start of the reply, by bowling his nine allotted over for just 34 including two maidens.