VICTORY at Ripsley Park on Saturday was just the tonic Rowledge needed, while Liphook were left to rue a chaotic build-up to the local derby, with skipper Charles Janczur deprived of several regulars, including talisman Suman Ganguly.

It was, in fact, a nightmare for Liphook who had to field the last 20 overs a player short and then batted only ten men.

Rowledge, beaten in both league and Village Cup the week before and second from bottom in the Southern Premier League Division One table, showed a great deal more fight and spirit and deserved their 52-run victory – a result based on Tom Treble’s accomplished century and high-quality slow bowling.

Ben Wish having chosen to bat, Rowledge didn’t get the best of starts. Nick Morant was quickly caught behind off Ryan Covey and Jake Wish, after a confident start, was snaffled at gully off Janczur who then castled Tom Gleave and trapped David Lloyd on the crease, leaving the visitors 69-4.

Number 3 Treble remained positive and the Australian was severe on anything short, of which there was plenty, and drove and pulled his way towards his 50. Ian Metcalfe helped add 45 before lofting a full-toss to midwicket and then Steve Martin batted sensibly in a seventh-wicket partnership of 91, doing his best to keep Treble on strike.

Treble took George Neave’s ninth over for plenty, and then tucked into fill-in bowler Chris Martin, hitting 20 off his one over.

Having reached 123 off 118 balls and hit 17 fours and five sixes, Treble finally fell to the returning Janczur (4-63) and a final flourish from Martin (37 not out) and Joe Randall advanced the total to 241-7 off 50 overs.

Ryan Covey and Rob Nicklin looked to get Liphook off to a flyer and it was an important breakthrough when first-change Lloyd had Nicklin caught on the drive for 20. Randall then had Gabe Broadhurst caught at slip as Rowledge rediscovered the knack of taking wickets.

A tactical change of ends for Chris Yates worked out nicely and the veteran had both Grant Rouse and Chris Martin caught straight, looking to go over the top.

The left-arm spin duo of Yates and George Keeley were enjoying the bouncy pitch and strangled the batsmen by bowling a combined 20 overs for 52 runs. The pressure led to the dismissal of Jonny Pryce, smartly stumped by Ben Wish off young Keeley.

Liphook were now 101-5 and although Covey was looking comfortable and finding the gaps skilfully, the required run-rate had grown steadily against the spinners.

With Liphook needing to attack, the deceptively sharp Steve Martin claimed the prize scalp of Covey, caught in the deep by Jake Wish for 82 (121 balls).

Off-spinner Lloyd (2-31 in 10) took a return catch from Neave and with the rate now at more than 12 an over, Elliott Hawkins was run out and Jake Wish and Randall claimed the final two wickets, leaving Liphook all out for 189 with more than two overs remaining.

Rowledge reach the midway point of the season out of the bottom two and will look to consolidate when they host Bournemouth this Saturday. Liphook are away to Portsmouth and, on Sunday, make the short trip to Alton for a T20 Cup second round match (start 3pm).