Guy is top bowler
by Dennis Wright, 21st June 2003

Top bowling performance of the day came from Ian Guy (7/26) as Caythorpe IV (106/4) beat Long Whatton II (105) in 2F. Clifton Village III hit the day's highest score a massive 273/7 at home to Ellerslie III who also managed 200.

With so many youngsters doing well in the 2nd XI competition it is good to highlight a top performance from the senior end like 63yr old Jim Hamilton who hit 80* for Beeston II as they beat Radcliffe on Trent III (150/9) by 80 runs.

Clifton Village march on at the top of 2A as they beat 2nd place Plumtree (175/7) by 9wkts, Matt Handley 90* and Rod Springer 68* enjoying the sun and big hits. Radcliffe on Trent (261/4) kept Kimberley at bay, but it was oh so close at the end as Kimberley came within 11 runs of victory before ending with a draw that sees them slip further down the table and looking more unlikely to keep the 2A title they have held for so long.

Charles Lucas scored 94* for Collingham II (191/3) as they had the lion’s share of a draw at Southwell (145/8). Attenborough II (173/5) beat Unity Casuals II (169/5) to record a great day for the club as their 3rd XI also notched up a victory: their eighth on the trot.

Gedling Colliery (165/2) had an easy victory over Notts. Amateurs (164/8) to keep hold of top spot in 2B. Gotham Village II (198/6) dinted Bottesford’s (189/9) promotion hopes in this draw. Lady Bay (199/5) beat Eastwood town (198/6) whilst 2nd place Long Eaton II (173/3) had little trouble catching Gedling Sherwood (170).

Victory for Ellerslie (153/4) over Nottingham (152) ensured home teams’ dominance in 2B this week. Veteran Norman Jowett (73*) steered Bramcote II with Tom Yates (58) to a 9wkt win at home to Caythorpe III (167/6). Calverton (124/2), on a high, beat Newark (123), with time to spare.

Stanton by Dale II (202/3) were involved in a high scoring match at their small ground, Risley having set 200/9. Loughborough Carillon inflicted a rare defeat on Thurgarton with Stewart Bond’s 109 the main contribution to Carillon 242/8, Alan Higson who retired hurt earlier in the innings of Thurgarton returned to finish 36* but it was not enough as his side lost by 62 runs.

Michael Prosser (6/29) restricted Underwood II to 107/3 chasing Gedling & Sherwood’s 236/9. Attenborough III are the only team who have won all their games making them firm favourites to repeat promotion, as they have done every year since joining the league. Balderton II’s 109/9 was never enough as Attenborough won by 6wkts.

Newstead Abbey II emulated their other teams as they again racked up 3 wins in the weekend. Having scored 214, West Bridgfordians came mighty close before failing by 18 runs. Attenborough and Newstead are dominating the division and lead the pack comfortably. 15 yr old Scott Pratt’s 6/14 reduced Old Paviors II to 118 which Stoke Bardolph passed for the loss of 3wkts.

Thrumpton II (90/0) are still top of 2E as Steve Weightman (50*) showed again how he is a class above the rest in that division beating Lambley (89). Sawley III (235/4) are 2nd after another crushing win, this time at home to Chilwell II (78), Neil Moulds (6/37) doing the damage.

Ten men East Leake II travelled to West Bridgford Legion in 2F for a remarkable match. Leake were cruising at 94/1 with Paul McCann 50, then a collapse to match that of Nottinghamshire at Derby saw them slip to 134 all out. Enter McCann the bowler to take 5/35 a catch and finally a split finger as Legion limped along to 136/8.

Snibston (53/2) stuffed fellow promotion placed rivals Plumtree III (51) with P.Birch 6/6 at the front of the action. Simon Hogg played his 1st game for Toton since their tour to Corfu in October 2001 and had an immediate effect, his 58 steered Sycamore to 160/7 which was 15 more than Collingham could muster. Joint League President Trevor Vennett-Smith has seen it all over the last few weeks as he has moved around all of Thrumpton’s teams, his 29* took Thrumpton past Lowdham’s 144 having earlier taken 4/20 to roll back his advancing years.