Cavaliers on the road to Lord's
by Alan Rowley, 27th June 2003

West Indian Cavaliers continue on the road to Lord's this Sunday when they entertain Easingwold in the ECB National Club Cricket Championship. Cavaliers are now only four games from the home of English cricket.

The Championship, which has reached the last 32 stage, is open to club sides throughout the country and was won last year by Saffron Walden.

York based Easingwold are the Cavs fourth opponents in this year's Group 4 regional group. They started on the road to Lord's back in May with a one wicket victory over Derbyshire Premier outfit Quarndon. Cavs winning the game with just one ball remaining.

In the next round, the Cavaliers demolished Doncaster Town by 172 runs thanks to fifties from Steve Atkinson (59), Andy Haye (61) and Michael Millwood (59). Atkinson (pictured right) went on to return best bowling figures of 4 for 34 to set up a regional semi final clash against Aston Hall.

Atkinson was again in sparkling form in this game scoring 68 runs and taking 4 for 59. Monty Douglas top scored with a 71 ball unbeaten 89 (10 fours and 2 sixes) whilst Dominic Williamson chipped in with 77 from only 58 balls. Aston Hall were no match for the mighty Cavs and fell 127 runs short.

Meanwhile, over the border, former Notts Amateur team Sandiacre Town take on Treeton CC in the Group 3 regional final at Longmoor Lane. Sandiacre have already seen off Kimberley Institute, Lascelles Hall and Delph & Dobcross. Their Yorkshire visitors are members of the South Yorkshire Cricket League, and are in equal second place in their Premier Division.

Also on Sunday, Plumtree will find out who they will meet in the first National round of the Village Cup when Elvaston take on Brailsford in the Derbyshire regional final.

Plumtree are already through to the nationals after playing just one game to win their group. They received byes in the first three rounds before destroying Grainthorpe by nine wickets in the semi-final. In the final, Plumtree had a walkover when Lowdham surprisingly conceded. Plumtree will play the Derbyshire victors at home on July 6th, with the Lord's final taking place on September 7th.

Only three games took place in the Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire group that was plagued by withdrawals. Surely it's time the organisers took a serious look at the format of this tired looking competition.

Why do teams enter when they have no intention of treating the competition seriously? Is it for the free subscription to The Cricketer magazine that comes with entries?