HARTFORD kick-started their season in excellent fashion as they completed a league and cup double over Stalybridge at the weekend in the Cheshire Cricket Alliance.

Leading the way in fine style was Gaz Stokes who scored a magnifienct 106 not out.

Stalybridge always threatened to be tougher opposition than they had proved to be the weekend before.

Hartford had no hesitation in batting first winning the toss.

And for the first time this season, the batsmen pushed home an early advantage.

Each of the first three batsmen put on partnerships worth more than 50 runs.

Gaz Stokes blasted away from the start, but after he was joined by Matt Shinkfield at 55-1 he was content to sit back and let Shinkfield take over the bulk of the scoring.

Shinkfield fell for a quick 41, and then while Stalybridge tried to wrestle back the initiative, Martin Pickup weighed in with 24 before he lost his wicket with the score on 169-3.

A couple more wickets tumbled in quick succession but Stokes batted through it all and went to an imperious century, finishing on 106 not out as Hartford closed their innings on 244-5.

After the tea interval, Hartford got exactly the start they needed to go for a quick victory with Graham Prew (31-3) picking up the early breakthroughs.

Brian Harkin took 50-2 before the Stalybridge innings was brought to an abrupt end with bowlers Rob Whittle taking 14-2 and Josh Spruce 9-3 in just nine balls.