Kiveton take over at the top
by Paul Barker, 3rd August 2002

After succumbing to their first defeat of the season last week league leaders Cutthorpe gave a repeat performance when they went down heavily to a resurgent Papplewick side on Saturday.

When one considers that they held a 32 point advantage at the head of the table on July 20th it is a major reversal of form that has now seen Kiveton Park take over at the top.

Cutthorpe?s problem all season has been their batting but their attack has always pulled them out of any trouble they have been in. On only two occasions in the league have they topped 200 runs when batting and Saturday?s dismal effort of 123 all out against Papplewick was never going to be enough. Only Chris Marples (35) saved them from real humiliation as Lee Colledge (3 for 60) and Jim Rhodes (4 for 59) whipped through some rather weak resistance.

Papplewick were never in any trouble amassing the runs required with Neil Sparham (35), Simon Rhodes (39) and Wayne Noon bludgeoning them to an easy six wicket win.

One thing Cutthorpe?s loss of form has done is make proceedings at the top a lot more exciting and Kiveton Park have really took full advantage by taking 138 points out of the last 160 available and one of these matches was rained off! Their opponents on Saturday Mansfield Hosiery Mills were brushed aside with total disdain as Kiveton moved to the top of the table.

Batting first Hosiery Mills were dismissed for just 141 with only Darren Johnson (33) making any impact. Richard Spurr bowled quite superbly to take 6 for 37 and Steve Frost (3 for 26) gave excellent support. It was that man again, Steve Frost, when Kiveton replied scoring 52 as his side coasted to victory with four wickets in hand.

Arnold must have feared the worst as they were bowled them out for just 110, but with the ball moving around considerably Glapwell were soon returned to the pavilion for just 89 to give the home side a 21 runs success. Arnold must have been grateful to Ally Allcock (38) and Don Leiper (27) as Nick Bircumshaw sliced through their batting to take an impressive 4 for 31.

This target was never threatened and only a brave 25 from Phil Matthews saved Glapwell from total disaster. Rick Peacock was totally unplayable taking 6 for 43, as Arnold kept up their progress up the table.

A run feast was the order of the day at Edwinstowe as Thoresby Colliery and Worksop amassed 476 runs between them for the loss of only ten wickets. Batting first Thoresby reached 248 for 6 with Scott Lindsay (30), Martin Cheshire (33), Simon Chatterton (44) all supporting a hurricane knock of 79 by Steve Willis. Anthony Edwardson bowled well considering the fierce onslaught to take 3 for 47.

This target was almost reached as Glen Pym made his second consecutive league century with a brilliant 105 n.o. and good support came from Tim Ward (60) as Worksop totaled 228 for 4 when the overs ran out

Cuckney who have been having a torrid time of late got their season back on track with a seven wicket win over Killamarsh. Batting first Killamarsh were bowled out for a paltry 93 with Gavin Johnson making full use of the helpful conditions to take 6 for 37 and Ian Morley (3 for 18). Skipper Mark Bull made a resilient 30 but his excellent example was not copied by the other members of the side.

This target proved simple as Australian Bryn Gaunt (36 n.o.) and Matt Sangar (26) took Cuckney to a more than welcome win.

League leaders in Division 2, North Wheatley were one of the few unfortunate teams in the league this weekend losing the entire of the match against Anston thanks to the weather. This means their lead at the top is now cut to 47 points with a game in hand, but it is still a healthy gap, which will probably grow even more as the season wears on.

Second placed Blyth took advantage with a comprehensive victory over Edwinstowe by 78 runs. Batting first Blyth made 152 all out with Pete Jones (39) and Andy Barthorpe (31) both batting well whilst Jon Garnham took 4 for 41 for Edwinstowe.

This total proved comfortably enough as Edwinstowe were ripped out for just 74 with man of the match Barthorpe taking 5 for 32 and veteran Steve Howe weighing in with 3 for 10. Next week?s match between Blyth and North Wheatley should now prove to be very interesting with the former needing a positive result desperately.

Bolsover stay in third place after a hard fought victory over bottom club Milton who looked rather better than their position might expect. Batting first Bolsover reached 184 for 8 with the superb Tariq Rashid making 64 and Norman Dolling (36). Jim Henstock was the pick of the Milton attack taking 5 for 36.

Milton were then dismissed for 138 losing the match by 46 runs and it was once again Tariq Rashid (3 for 27) who proved to be the inspiration for Bolsover. Martin Millner (2 for 15) and Robbie Butler (2 for 16) were the other Bolsover bowlers to shine.

Eckington appear to have gone off the boil completely as they suffered a narrow one wicket defeat at the hands of Ashover who have taken a turn for the better. Only Tom Dawson (34) coped effectively with the Ashover attack in which Charlie Gwillym (6 for 35) and Ian King (3 for 22) both excelled as Edwinstowe were bowled out for just 132.

This target proved far from easy for Ashover and only a gutsy unbeaten 35 from Huw Champion turned the game in their favour as they just scraped home. Wayne Dye bowled brilliantly for Eckington taking 7 for 54 and must have wondered what he had to do to finish on the winning side as Ashover reached 133 for 9 in a nail biting finale.

Marshalls were indebted to Australian import Paul Van den Heuvel who made a superb unbeaten 103 out of his side?s 214 for 2 against Biwater Clay Cross. Good support came from skipper Chris Hearn who made 60 as the Clay Cross attack came under heavy fire.

Biwater were then struggling all the way and held on at 142 for 9 with youngster Ian Knowles (30) being the difference between a draw and defeat. Andy West was the best of the Marshalls attack taking 3 for 43.

Whitwell slipped even deeper into the relegation mire after being defeated by rivals Everton by an easy five wickets. Batting first Whitwell were well served by Ian Dennis (31) and Andy Draycott who made a brilliant 97 out of a final total of 180 for 8. Mark Anthony (4 for 62) bowled extremely well for Everton taking 4 for 62.

In reply Everton reached the target making 181 for 5 with Robert Peck (63) and Sasketa Kar (46 n.o.) as their side continued to climb out of relegation trouble. Richard Haslam (3 for 47) was easily the best of the Whitwell attack and his side now need to start winning matches quickly if relegation is to be prevented.