WOOLPIT were celebrating in the rain after overseas all-rounder Mike Jones inspired them to a flying start against Frinton in the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship.

The 29-year-old, who numbers Glamorgan 2nd XI among his previous clubs, scored a century and then weighed in with four wickets as Woolpit registered a 67-run success in the opening round of Division One matches on Saturday.

The club’s new signing figured in a stand in excess of 150 for the third wicket with Ollie Whiteman after the loss of two early wickets.

Jones scored 115 off 114 balls with nine fours and four sixes while Whiteman weighed in with 65 from 131 deliveries laced with four fours and one six.

The partnership provided the platform for the home team’s total of 219 all out, before bowling out Frinton for 152, Mark Jones top-scoring with 57, with the off spin of Jones claiming 16-4-37-4.

Barry Collins and Jimmy Allan also chipped in with two wickets apiece.

Craig Rutterford, who at the age of 25 has taken over as skipper from Andy Northcote, was delighted to get off to a winning start.

“At 100 for four in Frinton’s reply it could have gone either way, but we then took some quick wickets and were getting through our overs as quickly as we could before the rain came.

“It started to fall just as we were coming off and so we were celebrating in the rain as it came down even harder.”

Woolpit finished fourth in their inaugural season in the top flight in 2010 and followed that up by ending in seventh place last season.

With the South African-born Jones, who is resident in New Zealand but plays in Australia, alongside Italian international Andy Northcote this season, Rutterford is hoping to raise the bar.

He said: “I wouldn’t rule out a top-three finish as I think we have got a good enough squad to finish up there this season.

“I think Frinton will be up there and we have already shown what we can do against them.”

“Andy won’t be available for all our games, but Michael will be and he looks to be a real quality player.”

Rutterford said he also had big expectations this season for teenager Whiteman, who has come through the club’s youth set up, and also 21-year-old opening bowler Will Parker, who is at Loughborough University and should be back most weekends.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship

DIVISION ONE

*Coggeshall v Exning - match cancelled. Coggeshall (6pts), Exning (6pts).

*Elmstead Grasshoppers v Maldon - match cancelled. Elmstead Grasshoppers (6pts), Maldon (6pts).

Woolpit 219 (M Jones 115, O Whiteman 65). *Frinton 152 (M Jones 4 for 37). Woolpit (20pts) bt Frinton (8pts) by 67 runs.

*Haverhill 140 for 8. Mildenhall 31 for 2 - match abandoned. Haverhill (9pts), Mildenhall (10pts).

Ipswich 112 (S Gibson 35, J Rusby 32, D Reynolds 5 for 23, A Horrex 5 for 41). *Lakenheath 60 (A Alder 5 for 11). Ipswich (20pts) bt Lakenheath (5pts) by 52 runs.

*Wivenhoe 167 for 7 (G Dunstan 39, M Durrell 28, T Affleck 26, T Harwood 22, S Dove 3 for 53). Mistley 121 for 7 (K Young 47, S Barlow 29, R Savill 3 for 30, T Durrell 3 for 32) - match abandoned. Wivenhoe (12pts), Mistley (10pts).

DIVISION TWO

Ipswich & ES 208 for 8. *Braintree 95 for 3 - match abandoned. Braintree (10pts), Ipswich & ES (12pts).

Brightlingsea 130 for 7 (B Harvey 40, T Cracknell 32, T Bosher 4 for 38, W Mitchell 3 for 33). *Easton 132 for 4 (S Chorlton 48, J Kimmerling 23no). Easton (18pts) bt Brightlingsea (4pts) by 6 wkts.

*Hadleigh 129 for 8 (K Tanner 46no, C Pettit 6 for 40) v Abberton - match abandoned. Hadleigh (8pts), Abberton (10pts).

*Mildenhall II v Brockley - match cancelled. Mildenhall II (6pts), Brockley (6pts).

Dunmow 104 for 8. *Witham 105 for 2. Witham (19pts) bt Dunmow (2pts) by 8 wkts.

*Woodbridge & OW v Worlington - match cancelled. Woodbridge & OW (6pts), Worlington (6pts).

DIVISION THREE

*Copford v Long Melford - match cancelled. Copford (6pts), Long Melford (6pts).

*Felixstowe v Sudbury II - match cancelled. Felixstowe (6pts), Sudbury II (6pts).

*Halstead II 210 for 6. East Bergholt 194 for 6. Halstead II (18pts) bt East Bergholt (7pts) by 16 runs.

Little Bardfield Village v Coggeshall II - match cancelled. Little Bardfield Village (6pts), Coggeshall II (6pts).

Bury St Edmunds II 119. *Stowmarket 46 for 5. Stowmarket (11pts), Bury St Edmunds II (9pts).

*Yoxford v Kelvedon & Feering - match cancelled. Yoxford (6pts), Kelvedon & Feering (6pts).

DIVISION FOUR

*Exning II v Clacton II - match abandoned. Exning II (6pts), Clacton II (6pts).

Witham II 83 for 9. *Ipswich II 87 for 3. Ipswich II (19pts) bt Witham II (1pt) by 7 wkts.

*Ipswich & ES II v Earl Stonham - match cancelled. Ipswich & ES II (6pts), Earl Stonham (6pts).

*Mistley II v Hadleigh II - match cancelled. Mistley II (6pts), Hadleigh II (6pts).

*Woopit II* 136-5 v Frinton II - match cancelled. Woolpit II (8pts), Frinton II (8pts).

DIVISION FIVE

*Abberton II v Wivenhoe II - match cancelled. Abberton II (6pts), Wivenhoe (6pts).

*Bury St Edmunds III v Tuddenham - match cancelled. Bury St Edmunds III (6pts), Tuddenham (6pts).

*Great Bromley 252 for 8. Harwich & Dovercourt 116. Great Bromley (20pts) bt Harwich & Dovercourt (4pts) by 136 runs.

*Kelvedon & Feering II v St Margarets - match cancelled. Kelvedon & Feering II (6pts), St Margarets (6pts).

*Mildenhall III v Boxted - match cancelled. Mildenhall III (6pts), Boxted (6pts).

DIVISION SIX

*Brightlingsea II v Felixstowe Corinthians - result not received.

*Long Melford II v Nacton - match cancelled. Long Melford II (6pts), Nacton (6pts).

DIVISION EIGHT WEST

*Nowton 184 for 8. Battisford 79 for 8 - match abandoned. Nowton (14pts), Battisford (10pts).

DIVISION C

Wivenhoe 183 for 8. *Frinton 102. Wivenhoe (20pts) bt Frinton (5pts) by 81 runs.

DIVISION C CUP

*Mistley 139 for 8. Clacton 141 for 3. Clacton (2pts) bt Mistey (0pts) by 7 wkts.

LADIES CHALLENGE

Ipswich v Easton - match cancelled.

LADIES’ T20

Bury St Edmunds v Maldon - match cancelled, Mistley v Frinton - match postponed.

* Denotes home team.