DROITWICH Spa CC's commitment to give youth a chance appears to be paying off as proven by the innings of a trio of teenage batsmen this weekend.

The introduction of a fourth team for the first time this season is seeing Spa build for the future by providing opportunities for more youngsters than ever before to play competitive senior cricket.

On Saturday, Dave Purchase fell agonisingly eight runs short of a century in the thirds’ comfortable 156-run victory at Romsley, where George Taylor also weighed in with 71 to keep Spa top of the table.

Tom Goss made 76 not out as the fourths cantered to an impressive 10-wicket win against Ombersley Taverners.

Seasoned campaigner James King hit an unbeaten 86 as Droitwich secured maximum points with 17 overs to spare – Chris Leavers earlier chipping in with 4-21, which included a wicket with the first ball of the match.

Droitwich seconds secured the most emphatic victory of the weekend as they annihilated Avoncroft by a massive 215 runs at St Peter’s Fields.

Every batsman scored freely as Spa scored a huge 335-4 with Rhys John grabbing exactly 100 and Duncan Hughes 51.

Karl Goddard and Jonny Keen then picked up three wickets apiece as the visitors were blown away for just 120.

Unfortunately, the first team could not make it a clean sweep of wins for Spa after being heavily defeated by 98 runs at Belbroughton, where they came up a long way short in their 250-run chase.

The only bright spot on a disappointing day was captain Martyn Davies’ miserly spell of 2-12 from 10 overs.