Total humiliation for Notts & Arnold Amateurs
by Paul Barker, 22nd August 2004

The way the season started saw many good judges thinking that the newly amalgamated side of Arnold and Notts. Amateur who had reformed under the title of Notts. & Arnold Amateur would indeed challenge for the league championship.

Nothing changed this view as they started the season at a higher force than Hurricane Charlie winning seven of their first eight games and the only setback was a drawn match which was entirely due to the weather.

Then on the first Saturday in June, they went down heavily to Cuckney by six wickets and from that moment their form has been patchy to say the least. Last week however they put together their best performance for some time thrashing lowly Edwinstowe by nine wickets and although their opponents are struggling badly the manner of the win suggested that Notts. & Arnold had turned the corner.

Not so, but even they couldn’t have envisaged what was waiting for them next. Saturday’s round of matches were all conducted on wet wickets, but even taking that into consideration a pathetic score of 29 all out is just about the pits and shows the Notts. & Arnold deficiencies up into a true light.

Their opponents Glapwell are without doubt the most improved side in the division this season. They have shown courage and resilience over the last few seasons which have all been relegation dog fights for them and have emerged with a few additions to their squad as a talented and highly respected bunch of players who have no fear of anyone.

New Zealand star Ian O’Brien literally tore the heart out of the Notts. & Arnold batting taking 6 for 15 in a brilliant spell of accurate quick bowling and Gary Saxby (4 for 12) added magnificent support as the Notts. & Arnold innings resembled a procession from and back to the pavilion in the time it takes one to blink.

Despite losing an early wicket the result was never going to be in doubt and Dean Graney (14 n.o.) and Nick Truswell (16 n.o.) saw Glapwell home by nine wickets.

The battle of the basement boys saw Bolsover pull off a crucial win over Edwinstowe to move right up on their opponent’s shoulders. In a hard fought encounter Bolsover must have thought they had done the business when they dismissed Edwinstowe for just 100 with only Australian Garth Brown showing much form with the bat as he made a cultured 39 in conditions that must have been entirely alien to him.

Bolsover’s inspirational skipper Charlie Walker threw down the gauntlet to his side taking 6 for 48 in a lion hearted spell which said everything about leading from the front. This simple target however proved to be a nightmare as Edwinstowe fought back hard and made Bolsover fight for every run.

They finally got there thanks to a brilliant knock of 31 by that master class batsman Tariq Rashid and an extremely valuable effort of 22 from Andy Rodgers. Despite the Herculean efforts of Richard Gombos (3 for 21) and Ally Rhodes (5 for 44) it was fitting that skipper Walker had the last say as he straight drove a boundary with only two wickets left in a pulsating climax which had everyone excited right until the last ball.

Edwinstowe amazingly have more bowling bonus points than any other team in the league other than runaway leaders Mansfield Hosiery Mills and on the evidence of this it is not too difficult to see why. Sadly their batting doesn’t hold up as well and this is what has let them down.

Bolsover are now only four points adrift of Edwinstowe and everything is there to play for with their match at home to Worksop being absolutely critical next Saturday. Don’t write them off, this side is made of very stern stuff!

Worksop for that matter are becoming entrenched in the relegation fight and went down heavily to Farnsfield by seven wickets at Station Lane . Batting first they at least showed more resilience than in some weeks making 184 for 7 when the overs ran out. Jamil Hassan (44) and Steve Walker (39) both batted well for Worksop against a good and varied Farnsfield attack in which Neil Sharpe, Mark Silcock and Keith Miller all bagged a brace of wickets each.

This target was nowhere near enough however and Dave Tilbury (63 n.o.) and Dave Bell (50 n.o.) easily took Farnsfield to 185 for 3 and a comfortable win. Worksop are now 25 points clear of Bolsover who they play next weekend but should the latter gain a maximum points win, the Central Avenue side will be looking anxiously over their shoulders for the last few games.

Cuckney who are in a rich vein of form at the moment eased to a three wicket win over Thoresby Colliery who have lost their way a little in recent games. Batting first Thoresby could never master slow bowler Paul Gurnell who helped himself to 5 for 20 as they were dismissed for just 119. Youngster Daniel Brown gave excellent support with 3 for 26 and only Martin Cheshire (38) saved Thoresby from a really ignominious score.

Cuckney took the chance to mess about with their batting order but it nearly became a ‘Catch 22’ situation as they lost seven wickets before the winning hit was made. Majid Verjee, Paul Gurnell and Dave Newman all made 22 but their were a few hearts fluttering as Bill Lippeatt (3 for 25) and David Evans (3 for 53) threatened to bring Thoresby back into the match.

The other two matches in Division 1, Bridon v Kiveton Park and Cutthorpe v Blidworth fell foul of the weather owing to waterlogged grounds after Friday’s downpour.

Top team in Division 2 Marshalls did their cause a power of good with a crushing 59 run win over Papplewick & Linby 2 nd which puts 44 points between the two sides and this huge deficit is surely too much for any side to make up at this stage of the season.

Batting first Marshalls batted steadily on a damp track which gave great assistance to the bowlers and made 138 for 5 as the overs ran out. Skipper Kevin Housham was the hero of the hour making a solid and extremely valuable 63 n.o., a real captain’s innings!

In reply Papplewick could only muster an all out total of 79 as Mark Davies proved totally unplayable taking 7 for 16 in a superb spell of bowling. Only Gary Porter with 29 showed any sign of resistance as Marshalls picked up a maximum points haul which virtually sees them in Division 1 next term.
Killamarsh who were in second place had their match cancelled owing to the weather at N.S.K. but remain 26 points in front of Papplewick and need just a few more points to return straight back to the top section.

Struggling Clay Cross Works who are virtually doomed to relegation earned themselves a winning draw over fellow strugglers Blyth in a titanic struggle at Brassington Street . Batting first Clay Cross looked as though they had set out for an early night when they stood 11 for 6 and had found John Smith (5 for 40) impossible to play.

However a brilliant stand between Christian Pratt who batted magnificently for his 85 and Geoff Leatherday (28) saw 94 important runs added and a final total of 149 for 9 was posted to give Clay Cross some hope.

Despite a battling 38 by Greg Willcox Blyth staggered to 123 for 9 when the overs ran out with Martin Leatherday (3 for 36) and Prasad Parimi (3 for 31) bowling superbly. This will not be enough to save Clay Cross but it has closed the deficit between themselves and Blyth to respectable levels but both sides look certain to be playing in Division 3 next season.

Anston went down heavily to Pilsley by eight wickets with the magical bat of Saeed Bin Nasir being the major difference between the two sides. Batting first Anston could only muster 135 for 6 with Andrew Ruczenczyn top scoring on 42 and Mark Limb being the best of the Pilsley bowlers with a creditable 3 for 27.

Saeed then took over smashing an unbeaten 91as he and Dave Wright (21 n.o.) added an unbroken 96 for the third wicket as Pilsley finished on 136 for 2. The game however ended on a sour note as Pilsley looking for a six to finish it and to pick up a further bonus point were denied as the Anston bowler deliberately bowled a wide to concede victory. Nothing wrong with that but it’s not quite in the spirit of the game and not something which anyone would like to see spreading through the league.

Whitwell who had slumped dangerously down the league just about ensured their safety with a superb three wicket win over Notts. & Arnold 2 nd at Goosedale Lane . Batting first Notts. & Arnold could reach only 143 for 9 on a difficult damp wicket with only David Evans (31) providing any backbone to the innings. Australian Braydon Stone bowled an impeccable length taking 5 for 36 in a tight and imaginative spell of left arm slow bowling.

Not that Whitwell had it all their own way, but Alan Draycott who is unquestionable one of the best batsmen in this section played a masterful innings of 75 which saw Whitwell reach 146 for 7 and victory. Paul Murphy (4 for 33) and David Charles (3 for 35) both bowled superbly but the task was just beyond them.

The North Wheatley with Leverton v Eckington fixture was another victim of the weather.