MOTLEY & HOPE are proud to announce their sponsorship of Biggleswade Town Cricket Club's treble winning evening team for the 2005 season.

Last season the team became the first ever club to lift all three local charity cup competitions. They beat Ickwell at Henlow to lift the East Beds Senior Shield, Flitwick at Potton to lift the Heritage Cup and Kimbolton at Bedford Modern to win the Hospital Cup for the 2nd year running.

Paul Motley was present on Sunday as the players gathered for a photo with all three trophies.

They started their title defences this week with games against Henlow in the Heritage Cup on Monday and Bedford Yardies in the Hospital Cup on Tuesday.

Monday's game against Henlow seemed in doubt all afternoon with steady rain soaking the pitch but Biggleswade's players turned up to find the groundsman placing the stumps in the wicket and getting the boundary out. After some discussion with the appointed umpires, play was set to commence at 6.15pm.

On winning the toss, Henlow inserted Biggleswade who, without regular skipper Kevin Wright, went on to smash the bowling to all parts. Opener Jimmy Hart and South African Jon Cole-Edwardes each made quick 50s, Hart's from just 31 balls and he took a particular liking to the bowling of Wayne Goldsmith (Goldsmith played for BTCC in last years evening games) hitting him for 2 huge sixes.

At the end of their innings Town had amassed a score of 144 on a tricky damp wicket and this was to prove too hard for Henlow to chase.

Tight bowling by spinner Dan Denton and seamer Paul Ward saw Henlow struggling to get anywhere near the run rate. Town held their catches in difficult conditions and won by 72 runs.

Town will face either Kimbolton or Eaton Socon in the next round to be played on Monday 6th June.

In Tuesday's game against new team Bedford Yardies, Yardies batted first and struggled to score freely against the Town's bowling attack.

After Denton and Whinnett's opening spells which brought about 2 run outs, acting skipper Harmit Bahra came on and picked up 6 wickets for 20 runs in under 3 overs. He was ably supported by Matt Twigg who bowled 2 overs picking up 2 wickets for just 7 runs. Yardies were all out for 90.

Town set about the chase in their usual positive fashion with the night's previous top scorers, Jimmy Hart and Jon Cole-Edwardes seeing Town home with over 3 overs to spare to win by 9 wickets.