MARLOW CC have won every game they’ve played this season but still are more than ten points off the top of the table.

Rain has forced them off three times out of six so far this summer and while they’ve been sitting in the pavilion Wokingham and Kew have made the most of their extra games to edge ahead.

That frustration aside though, Marlow can’t have done any more and after following promotion with relegation two seasons ago they appear to have learned their lesson.

Marlow captain Graeme Paskins said: “It’s been quite frustrating having three games called off, it’s got to improve.

“But we’ve built on a good season last year.

“We got promoted and then relegated straight away a few years ago but this year we’ve kept the continuity of the side and prepared ourselves very well before the season started.

“We haven’t got any superstars but we’re getting the most out of all our players and I’m very pleased with the way it’s all come together.”

Bowling is again their strength, with three good seamers added to their traditionally strong spin attack and as yet no side has scored more than 200 runs against them.

Eversley were reduced to 42-4 on the opening day, Beaconsfield were limited to 196-6 on their own track the week after while Henley and High Wycombe 2s have both been dismissed for 184.

Paskins said: “We’ve got a pretty good all-round attack with three good seamers and a spin-attack to take control of any game.

“The sides we’ve played against so far have really struggled to dominate when we’ve turned the screw.

“But the pivotal games are coming up. We’ve got Wokingham and Kew and they look like strong title contenders.

“We’ve had a good start and want to push on, but those games will be the benchmark for us.”

Marlow go into tomorrow’s home game with Kew in good heart though after getting the better of a strong High Wycombe 2s outfit.

They inserted Wycombe and a few early breakthroughs reduced their hosts to 16-2.

Sam Buckfield (30) and Paul Sawyer (65) sparked a revival, but Mark Dozell removed Sawyer and wickets came steadily after that with spin twin Jeremy Batty (4-43) making good use of the conditions.

Marlow’s reply also wobbled early on as they lost two wickets in two balls to stutter to 24-2.

But after Dion Pistorius settled nerves with 21, a 100-run stand between Dave Quamil (80 not out) and Kevin Hudson (41) eased Marlow home after just 32 overs.

Paskins said: “That was a really important week for us. We’ve had a few good performances but that was the first one where we really clicked with bat and ball.”

Meanwhile, Marlow 2s drew at Farnham Royal in Division 4A and in Division 9B Marlow 3s beat Farnham Common by 125 runs.

They were all out for 171 before rattling through Farnham Common, who were back in the hutch for just 46.

Richard O’Toole was their saviour with the bat, hitting 58 down the order before Anwar Hassan (4-16) and Phil Lines (3-21) did the damage with the ball.