South Notts League final weekend
by Dennis Wright, 7th September 2003

The final weekend of the Gunn & Moore South Notts Cricket League saw the last few outstanding promotion and relegation positions decided.

In 2A Clifton Village II continued their meteoric rise from 2D in 1999 to 2A champions. Going into their final match away at Southwell they knew that a win was essential as Wollaton had closed in on their lead over the past weeks, even taking over at the top for one week. Southwell II batted first and on a day when scoring seemed difficult throughout the league they racked up an impressive 170/8 in their allotted overs; A Wilson top scoring with 60. Clifton set off in chase of glory and it was Peter Fairhall, who has steered the ship through all their campaigns, who held his nerve hitting 61 to see Clifton home by 4wkts.

Wollaton ensured a creditable runner-up slot, no mean achievement for the 2B winners last season, when they beat Plumtree II who could have taken 2nd place themselves. Plumtree (134) struggled along in the conditions as only Rob Perrigrin (42) managed to make a lasting impression in the score book. Alex Cooke (62*) took charge for Wollaton as they romped home by 6wkts. Attenborough II took the 3rd place from Plumtree as they easily beat Hucknall II (150/9) by 4wkts. Attenborough’s James Harrison had an impressive day as he took 2/20 in 19 overs of which 10ovs were maidens. He then hit 41* to ensure the victory.

In 1C, third place Thurgarton were on tenterhooks as they knew that Newark had to beat West Bridgfordians to keep hold of the 2nd promotion spot and Bridgfordians needed a win to stay out of relegation places. It was Newark who were to triumph having Paul Taylor (58) take his side to 166/7 at close. Alan McCloughlin (95) did his best to deliver the much need win but Bridgfordians fell 20 runs short.

In 2C Loughborough Carillon’s defeat at home to Caythorpe III saw them slip into a relegation place. Chris Evans for Carillon and Mike Cupit for Caythorpe had both scored 60s as Caythorpe won by 8wkts. Richard Drury of Keyworth hit 98* as his side beat champions Sawley III to move out of relegation as Awsworth II took over that spot. Sawley had scored 201 with J Hindes 85 before Drury took Keyworth to safety by just 2wkts.

Mid table games in 2G saw league president Trevor Vennett-Smith taking 5/15 as Thrumpton III (92) lost to Nottingham III (109/8). Chris Wright (69*) was the main stay for Lowdham II (134) however Danny Webb took the honours as he retuned the division’s best bowling performance of 7/41. David Pitchfork (58) then saw Edingley home by 4wkts.