by Allan Smith

STAFFORDSHIRE suffered a traumatic opening day and face a tough battle to come away with anything from their second championship fixture of the season away to Norfolk.

Staffordshire's pre-match preparations were blown out of the water by injuries to opening batsman Karl Quiney and bowler Craig Barker after playing for their clubs on Saturday afternoon.

Quiney was struck on the hand while scoring a half-century for Wombourne while Barker sustained a back injury in Audley's defeat at Longton.

To replace Quiney there was a late call-up for 17-year-old Alex Hughes in, who pulled out of a two-day Derbyshire Academy match to his Staffordshire debut alongside elder brother Liam, in what is believed to be the first occasion in the county's history that two brothers have made their debut in the same match.

he last pair of brothers to appear for Staffs in the same game was current county secretary Nick Archer and brother Richard

Barker made the trip to Norfolk hoping for an overnight improvement, but it was decided with the cup semi-final against Bedfordshire just seven days in the future not to risk him and, for a second time this season, there was a late call for coach Kim Barnett, below, to don his whites and fill the gap.

Heavy Overnight rain meant a delay at the start of proceedings after which Staffs were invited to bat first. in overcast conditions. Staffs woes were then added to by the loss of two wickets in Michael Eccles's first over of the day.

After Peter Wilshaw had opened the scoring their was a disappointing moment for Alex Hughes as his debut was cut short when he was removed wicket keeper Ben Harvey snapped up his leg glance from his first ball received.

Stone's Jimmy Dawson got off the mark with two before seeing he went as Eccles made a dream start for the home side.

Wilshaw was joined by Barnett and the pair responded excellently to the early pressure exerted by the home bowlers.

The pair put together a partnership of 72 to pull Staffs back into the match, but Wilshaw tried one big hit to many and perished for 35.

Worse was to follow as Ben McGuire departed without scoring in the same over to leave Staffs in trouble at 77-4 at lunch

Wickets continued to fall with Barnett the eighth to go down on 125 having made 51., in an attempt to hold the Staffs innings together.

A ninth-wicket partnership of 49 between Russ Ballard and Gareth Morris took Staffs to within one run of a unexpected batting point before Ballard's fine 81 ball stay at the crease finished on came to an end for 30.

Morris secured Staffs their point and hit four boundaries in his unbeaten 29 as the innings came to a close after 84.2 overs on 183.

Norfolk spinners Chris Brown and George Walker did the damage with figures of 5- 54 and 3- 44 respectively. with Brown's fifth wicket being the former Cheshire player's 250th championship wicket for the county.

In reply openers James Spelman and Ben Patston set wasted little time in setting about reducing the deficit compiling an opening partnership of 132 before Russ Ballard made the breakthrough having Patston caught at slip for 75. By the close Norfolk were just 48 runs adrift with nine wickets in hand. in a very strong position to build a commanding first innings lead on the second day.