YOU can usually rely on family and that's just what Radcliffe skipper Graeme Simpson did, and brother-in-law Bruce Cruse didn't disappoint, hitting his side's biggest score so far this season.

"It was a fantastic knock of 138 from Bruce, but he's always capable of getting that kind of score, you don't play first class cricket for Tasmania for a number of years without being able to knock the ball around," said Simpson.

"Our pro, Pasan Wanansinghe, had a good knock too at the right time and I chipped in, so it was a very pleasing performance on a cracking wicket.

"In reply they had to go for it from the word go and I felt 275 was always going to be just that little bit too much.

"They only really had the pro capable of getting them close, and he hit a ton, but we'd decided to allow him singles here and there and attack the other end.

"It seemed to work, the required run rate kept going higher and higher and eventually it was beyond him, after we got him out we just shut up shop for the last five or six overs."

The home side batted first with openers Hayes and Cruse making 19 before the former went for 10.

But then the innings really hotted up.

Aussie Cruse was joined by paid man Wanansinghe and the pair lit the fuse by putting on a superb 96 before the pro was stumped for 45.

If the visitors thought that was it they were sadly mistaken because when Cruse was joined by skipper Simpson (72) the fuse ignited the bomb that was the Radcliffe innings.

A magnificent 163 took the total to 278, before Cruse was caught by Royton pro Iman off a Gibbons' ball for a match-winning 138.

In reply Royton reached 42 before the first wicket fell (Perry 23), the first of Wanansighe's four victims.

Ward and Iman then produced a second wicket stand of 72 before Ward (45) was caught by Cruse off Kelley.

Iman tried to do keep the pot boiling but his partners came and went.

Gibbons was caught by Simpson for a duck; Hughes was run out for 13; Wilson was stumped by Farnworth off Wanansinghe, again for a duck.

When Iman was caught by his opposite number, Wanansinghe, for a battling 108, the game as a contest was over, with Royton going on to reach 227-8 before they ran out of overs.

"Five points are nice but this season they are a bonus, you win first, if you get the extra point all the better," said Simpson.

This Saturday the Racecoursemen travel to Walsden, followed by the visit of near neighbours Stand on Sunday.