Eight wicket O'Brien is Glapwell hero
by Paul Barker, 4th August 2004

On a day when low scores and damp pitches were the norm, it was quite understandable that the bowlers held the whip hand in the majority of matches. It was not about pace and hostility but simply a case of putting the ball in the right spot and letting the conditions do the rest.

None more so was this example borne out than at Fourth Avenue where home side Thoresby Colliery could be excused for thinking ‘its in the bag’ after limiting Glapwell to just 116 for 9 in their fifty overs. Had it not been for a dogged and determined innings of 54 by Nick Truswell, Glapwell would have been in an even worse mess as Bill Lippeatt bowled his excellent off spinners to reap a deserved reward of 6 for 20 in a quite brilliant spell.

It was not to be though and although Jonathan Hill (53 n.o.) did a similar job to Truswell, Thoresby fell just four runs short as they were bowled out for a dismal 112. The cause of this carnage was New Zealander Ian O’Brien who bowled with pace, verve and accuracy to take 8 for 43. It is testament to O’Brien’s accuracy that he hit the stumps five times and gained one l.b.w.

Both these sides have done well this season and should be rewarded with mid-table finishes. Both teams have solid foundations and can go on from this to even better things.

The match of the day between Mansfield Hosiery Mills the league leaders and third placed Cutthorpe was called off without a ball being bowled so Kiveton Park took their opportunity to cut Hosiery Mills lead at the top but this would seem to be purely incidental.

Facing struggling Worksop, Kiveton limited their opponents to just 140 for 8 in their fifty overs with Glen Pym top scoring with an invaluable 48. Richard Spurr (3 for 28) kept up his consistent form with a good spell of medium paced bowling.

However Kiveton had to struggle terribly before they reached their target and only one wicket was left when the winning hit was made. Australian Ryan Snape played a very valuable innings scoring 35 precious runs, whilst Steve Bentley bowled magnificently for Worksop to take 5 for 48. Worksop still need a few points to assure safety, but it is quite a mystery how a side with as much talent in it as this can be as low in the table.

The bottom of the table teams are simply as you where before the start of play with all three taking two points each from their losing encounters. Bolsover could only make an all out total of 98 against Bridon with Steve Wooley top scoring on 40. Australian Justin Miller bowled superbly to take 5 for 20, and Colin Hurst (3 for 29) as Bridon got right on top.

Once again though a low total proved not as easy as one would think and Bridon lost five wickets before registering the win. Simon Bingham’s unbeaten 36 was extremely valuable and Bridon now have nine outright wins to their name for the season. Spare a thought for Bolsover however who fought all the way to the last, none more so than inspirational skipper Charlie Walker who bagged 3 for 40 but couldn’t quite turn the tide enough.

Edwinstowe went down to the heaviest defeat in the section by nine wickets at a rejuvenated Notts. & Arnold Amateur. Batting first, Edwinstowe made a respectable 164 all out with Ian Flood doing most of the damage with 6 for 50.

This target proved little problem to Notts. & Arnold who sailed past the required runs for the loss of a single wicket. Australian star Justin Foss (69 n.o.) and Don Leiper (83 n.o.) were the batsmen in form as their side regained a bit of the fine form they showed at the start of the season.

Blidworth simply failed to compete on a level footing with Cuckney and were soundly beaten by seven wickets at Burmah Road . Batting first Blidworth could only reach 153 for 9 and that was chiefly due to their battle hardened star Ritchie Gibbons who made a fine 37 in very difficult circumstances.

Making life so difficult was Cuckney’s Australian Dave Newman who must surely be the ‘find of the season’. Newman captured 4 for 52 and he received great support from spin bowler Paul Gurnell who took 3 for 42 in a superb stint.

This total was never going to be enough and Cuckney raced to a comfortable win with skipper Dean Sayer (48), Gareth Price (41 n.o.) and that man Dave Newman (49 n.o.) all batting well to add another twenty points to Cuckney’s ever growing total.

In Division 2 leaders Marshalls once again wobbled badly before registering yet another win which keeps them at the head of affairs in this section. Facing a potential banana skin in Pilsley they did everything needed of them with the ball and after Saeed Bin Nasir had gone for 32, Chris Needham ran through some flimsy resistance to help himself to 3 for 29.

Any thoughts that this might be easy were soon to be dispelled as Pilsley fought back brilliantly to have Marshalls reeling on 92 for 9 with Dave Schofield (4 for 48) and Michael Thompson (4 for 31) creating havoc in their ranks.

Once again though as in previous weeks they managed to get out of trouble and a last wicket stand of 18 between Chris Blood (21 n.o.) and Kevin Metcalf (3 n.o.) saw them shakily pass the Pilsley total. Marshalls are stuttering badly most weeks but they do keep winning and that is all that can be asked of them. Pilsley can count themselves unlucky not to have won this one but they should have no problems surviving on the evidence of this game.

Second placed Killamarsh certainly do look the business and they totally destroyed bottom club Clay Cross Works by 114 runs at Sheffield Road . Batting first Killamarsh went on the rampage making a more than useful 209 for 4 when time ran out with the brilliant Sam Malpass (60), Dave Allen (41) and Adrian Rivington (39 n.o.) helping to pile on the agony.

Any thoughts Clay Cross might have had of pulling off a surprise were quickly dispelled as they stood 18 for 6 after a lethal opening burst from the Killamarsh attack. That they recovered to 95 all out was down to a battling knock of 41 by Ian Bettney as the rest of the batting disintegrated under the spell of Steve Ludlam (3 for 25) and Adrian Rivington who had a quite exceptional match with 4 for 16.

On this form Killamarsh look a certainty to win their place back in Division 1 whilst Clay Cross’s case looks simply hopeless and they are facing Division 3 cricket next term.

Papplewick and Linby 2 nd seem to have blown a gasket in the last fortnight and tasted defeat for the second consecutive Saturday as Eckington overcame them by four wickets.

Batting first Papplewick made a disappointing 150 for 9 with Ian Hardy top scoring on 55. The Eckington bowling was miserly throughout and Wayne Dye (4 for 33) and Ian Thompson (4 for 56) were the pick of a good strong unit who never let their grasp slip throughout the Papplewick innings.

In reply Eckington battled to an impressive victory with Andy Davies making a very impressive unbeaten 54, and Tom Dawson (35). Luke Fletcher (3 for 25) was the best of the Papplewick attack but their batsmen had not given them a good enough total to defend and defeat was inevitable a long time before it happened.

Next Saturday Papplewick travel to Marshalls in their most important fixture of the season. Anything other than a win would see their last withering hopes evaporate so this match is now of the utmost importance. Eckington still cling on to a faint hope but nobody should rule out this dangerous side until it is impossible. They don’t have the hardest run in ever seen and should they pick up maximum points which certainly isn’t impossible the last match of the season at Killamarsh could be a real humdinger.

N.S.K. easily saw off the challenge of Anston by 81 runs to continue their phenomenal run at the top end of the table. If only they hadn’t had such a bad start to the season everyone would be fearing them now, but no side will look forward to meeting them in this mood and they have Killamarsh and Marshalls still to play.

Batting first N.S.K. piled up the runs making 201 for 9 with Matt Smith (44), Joe Smith (36) and Nigel Murray (59) all batting well. As usual Andy Ruczenczyn made his presence felt taking 3 for 54 in an excellent spell of bowling.

In reply Anston simply had no answer to Paul Burrell who bowled superbly to bag 6 for 59 in a very impressive spell. Had it not been for Andy Ruczenczyn who made 47 Anston would have struggled to reach 100 but this gallant all rounder’s efforts saw them finally dismissed for 120 to give N.S.K. another easy win.

North Wheatley with Leverton picked up some precious and much needed points when they registered a winning draw over Notts. & Arnold Amateur 2 nd. Batting first, North Wheatley were thankful to Nick Purkiss who made a solid 35 against a Notts. & Arnold attack in which Billy Johal (7 for 46) took his personal total of wickets to 15 out of the last twenty to fall against his side. A quite remarkable feat.

Notts. & Arnold however could not press home their advantage and simply held out on 114 for 8 with only Mark North (47) applying himself to the job in hand. Robin Hackney with 6 for 19 was the best of the North Wheatley attack and this result will give them added confidence for the fight which still faces them to stay in this division.

Just when it looked all over for Clay Cross Works and Blyth as far as relegation is concerned the latter came back with a stunning eight wicket success over Whitwell. Batting first Whitwell were all back inside for just 68 runs with Dave Jessop (34) scoring half this total himself. The brilliant left armer John Smith who is unplayable on his day had just one of those taking 7 for 26 in a magical spell that nobody could come to terms with.

Pete Jones (33 n.o.) guided his side to a maximum twenty points and there might just be a glimmer of hope for Blyth yet.