Their previous meeting at Salem was a washout and it didn't look that promising this time either when the heavens opened at the scheduled start of the match.

As it turned out this was just a short shower and the match went on without further rain interruptions.

Hebden won the toss for the first time this season and chose to put the opposition in. Pickup was given the new ball from the 'piglet' end and was fast and accurate, Grindleton's Raw finding him especially hard work as the ball moved and climbed steeply.

He eventually fell to an excellent slower ball from Pickup with the score on 31 and bowled his seven overs straight through.

Ken Cameron replaced Macintosh and took a fantastic caught and bowled to dismiss Wilkinson for 29.

Bridge have been suffering from injuries with Atkinson, Bladon, Johnson, Massey and Wisbey all out of action for a number of weeks.

Tony Curtis took two really good catches to dismiss Wray and Leach, Hiam - keeping wicket - took his first of the season with an excellent piece of glovesmanship in what was generally a good fielding display/

Fielding wasn't without its comical sketches though with a 'cava moment' in the offing which saw Pickup call for a regulation catch only to be sandwiched by Bladon and Curtis and the opportunity lost.

Hebden were fortunate to be in a position to laugh about it with the opposition on 83 for 7 - four wickets having fallen without a run scored.

Tomlinson, Grindleton's 13-year-old came in at number eight and, after a slow start, he was joined by the aggressive Green. Tomlinson hit club captain Anderson for four fours in his one and only over as the ninth wicket pair put on 54, the youngster top-scoring with 31no as the visitors reached 150.

Morgan's figures were 3 for 14 off four overs while Curtis included a double-wicket maiden in his spell.

Bridge's reply didn't get off to the best of starts as Ward was bowled by Wray for 0 and Tranmer only made one, leaving the home side on 11 for 2 - which became 29 for 4 as Hiam went for a duck and Morgan for 15.

By this time Curtis was in the middle and he launched the first ball he faced in to the river for six.

Together with Pickup and together he took the game away from the visitors as both men went on to score unbeaten half centuries.

Curtis, 55, and Pickup, 61, put on 122 in a hard-hitting stand which included 10 sixes and nine fours, somewhat unusually, both Hebden's opening and ending runs were sixes and Hebden were home with six overs still remaining.

Hebden Bridge are at home on Saturday taking on Huddersfield Sleepers with play starting at 2.

GRINDLETON 150ao

P. Wilkinsonc&b Cameron29

C. Rawb Pickup9

C. Whittakerlbw Morgan16

M. Crosslandc Anderson b Curtis15

A. Wrayc Curtis b Morgan8

C. Hargreavesc Hiam b Curtis0

M. Leachc Curtis b Tranmer0

M. Tomlinsonnot out31

A. Robinsonc A'son b J.M'kintosh6

D. Greenc Curtis b Morgan22

D.