The first XI opened their premier league campaign on Saturday vs defending champions Tunbridge Wells.

Winning the toss the Vine elected to bowl first, however a strong opening partnership from Tunbridge Wells and a few missed opportunities left the hosts chasing the game early. Vernon provided the first strike as the game started to shift back towards the Vine. At the halfway mark the visitors were in a strong position of 190/2. A great spell from Henry Proctor (2-49) and spin from Harry Bevan Thomas (3-60) pulled the game back to a level pegging by the 40th over the visitors 250-6 at this stage, some strong hitting from the lower order meant the visitors would end on 330/8 at the end of the 50 overs.

Compton and Vernon (42) walked out for the second batting innings and got the Vine off to a strong start. Adding 90 for the first wicket. Compton continued to build but the vine lost Schlemmer (26) and Hope (19) in quick succession with the score on 196-3 at that stage. Harry Bevan-Thomas (29) and Compton who now reach a magnificent century had set the game up leading into the final ten overs the score at 235/3. The hosts required 95 in the final 10 overs. Some powerful hitting by Compton and now Henry Proctor got the vine to 285/6 when Compton departed for a very well played 147. Down to the final over, the vine required 24 and when the first two balls of the over went for 6 and 4 respectively 14 of 4 balls was looking achievable. Some good bowling by the visitors meant that the vine would fall short by 10 runs a disappointing result for the Vine who travel to Canterbury to play against St Lawrence and Highland Court this coming weekend.