ROWLEDGE secured promotion back to the SPL Division One at the first time of asking, following a crushing 234-run win over basement side Trojans at the Recreation Ground.

Jake Wish, still standing in for injured brother Ben, was delighted to win the toss and bat against Trojans’ ten men, and must have been even more pleased after his side’s exceptional batting display.

But Rowledge struggled initially against the nagging line and length of the experienced Jamie Donaldson and Mario Mohammed on a slow wicket and quickly lost their top three – the Yates cousins and Wish himself.

At 38-3, a decent score looked a long way off.

However, this brought together Fraser Wilson and Sam Moseley who stayed calm to survive the tough early phase of the game. Having done that, the pair launched into the bowling, punishing anything loose and invariably finding the many gaps in the field.

The dejected Trojan fielders were increasingly run ragged during an epic stand of 214, both batsmen reaching their centuries at around a run-a-ball, striking a mammoth 38 boundaries between them.

Wilson, the Sydney teenager, eventually departed for 119, his first century in England and an incredibly mature and skilful innings in this his farewell game.

Moseley finished 122 not out – his first hundred for the club – and Rowledge closed on 309-5 from their 50 overs.

Rowledge were not taking anything for granted and relentless new-ball spells from Richard Forbes and Jake Wish quickly put the game beyond Trojans.

The accurate Forbes bottled up one end, while Wish tore through the top order, dismissing the top three, including the in-form Nigel Le Bas, and frequently finding the edge and beating the bat.

Wilson caught two behind the stumps and when Forbes bowled Rahul Bhome, Trojans were 23-4 and the game was over as a contest.

The Southampton side had no respite as spinners Ollie Baker and George Keeley bowled in tandem and wickets continued to fall, with only young keeper Euan Ball offering serious resistance with 32.

The seasoned duo of Steve Martin and David Lloyd brought the game to a swift conclusion and Trojans were dismissed for 75 in 32 overs.

A thoroughly professional performance by Rowledge who now look forward to the challenge that awaits them in a strong Divison One next year.