South Yorkshire outfit Elsecar lined up for the champions
by Alan Rowley, 17th March 2004

Defending champions Sandiacre Town have been drawn at home to South Yorkshire League outfit Elsecar in the second round of the 2004 ECB National Cricket Club Championship sponsored by Cockspur Rum. The tie will take place on May 9th after both teams received first round byes.

The Yorkshire team, celebrating their 150th anniversary this year, finished in third place in the South Yorkshire League last season, behind champions Treeton. The league is no stranger to the Derbyshire lads as they beat 2003 champions Treeton comfortably in their regional group final last year. Elsecar, meanwhile, only got as far as the third round before crashing out to crack Yorkshire side Harrogate.

The only two sides unlucky enough to have to play in the first round on April 25th are Loughborough Town and Quarndon who meet at the Leicestershire Premier League club's ground. Quarndon need to consult Nottinghamshire Premier champions West Indian Cavaliers for advise on their opponents as the Cavs knocked the Leicestershire lads out of the 2002 tournament. The winners of this tie will go on to host Skelmanthorpe in round two. Skelmanthorpe were the side who knocked Loughborough out of last season's competition.

Sandiacre and Quarndon both take part in Group 4 of the regional tournament which has attracted 332 clubs split into 16 regional groups. Also in group 4 are local teams Caythorpe, Kimberley Institute, Ockbrook and Borrowash, Ilkeston Rutland, Denby and Dunstall.

Sandiacre Town celebrate their 2003 Lord's success

The clash of the second round has to be at Victoria Avenue, where Ockbrook and Borrowash take on old rivals Kimberley Institute. These two are regular opponents going back to the old Derbyshire Building Society Cup days and the two teams will be very familiar with each other. A close game looks on the cards here with the prospect of a home tie against the winners of the Caythorpe and Leicester Ivanhoe tie who meet at Leicester.

The other local clash concerns Dunstall and Denby who clash at The Deer Park. Denby will be favourites to progress against newly-relegated Dunstall, who are looking for an early return to the Derbyshire Premier. Surely the Staffordshire outfit will have the County League championship as their target.

The other local representatives Ilkeston Rutland have a tough opening at South Yorkshire League Sheffield Collegiate. Although having a disappointing 2003 season, the Yorkshire club are vastly experienced in this competition and sit in eighth place in the overall rankings table.

The other regional group to attract local interest is Group 3 which features Wirksworth and West Indian Cavaliers. Both local sides in this group look set for progress to round three of the tournament. Wirksworth visit York based Easingwold and the Cavs host Lascelles Hall.

Wirksworth should be able to dispose of their Yorkshire opponents who were annihilated in last year's tournament by the Cavs. The margin of victory was an incredible 270 runs after Greg Mike had thrashed 156 runs in only 128 balls, including 19 fours and 5 sixes and Lindon Joseph scored 96 not out in 52 balls which featured 6 fours and 6 sixes.

Meanwhile, the Cavs face Lascelles Hall who Sandiacre readily disposed of last season by a margin of 8 wickets. The winners of this tie face a tough third round challenge when they visit the winners of the Cleethorpes and Hull tie.

Full local ties in the Cockspur Cup are:

Group 3

2nd round (9th May)
Easingwold v Wirksworth
West Indian Cavaliers v Lascelles Hall

Group 4

1st Round (25th April)
Loughborough Town v Quarndon

2nd Round (9th May)
Sandiacre Town v Elsecar
Leicester Ivanhoe v Caythorpe
Ockbrook and Borrowash v Kimberley Institute
Sheffield Collegiate v Ilkeston Rutland
Dunstall v Denby
Loughborough Town or Quarndon v Skelmanthorpe

For more details on the competition, take a look at the following links:
Cockspur Cup home | Regional groups | Group 3 fixtures | Group 4 fixtures | Launch ceremony

Note: If you are viewing the fixtures on the Cockspur Cup site in the ladder format, please be aware that in rounds two, three and five, the first named teams in the ladder structure are AWAY.