Thoresby shock Hosiery Mills
by Paul Barker, 29th August 2004

After going all season without tasting defeat the great run of Mansfield Hosiery Mills came to an end at Fourth Avenue when Thoresby Colliery pulled off a mighty victory by four wickets. Don’t run away with the idea that this was an easy win however, because it was a lot closer than the scores would suggest and had it not been for a magnificent unbeaten captain’s innings by Martin Cheshire the odds are that Hosiery Mills would still be unbeaten.

These two sides seem extremely evenly matched and the game at the Hosiery Mills earlier in the season was an absolute thriller in which the home side came out as victors in an amazing match. This was totally different with every run having to be fought for and no quarter asked or given.

The toss was all important and Thoresby won it and Shailesh Patel had Tom New and Dave Loveridge both back in the pavilion with only one run on the board to deliveries that climbed off a length. Jeff Appleton was next to go to provide Patel with his third wicket and wickets fell steadily until they were all out for a disappointing 108.

Jason Gorman, Asela Jayasinghe and Mark Langford all made a start but failed to go through with the effort whilst all the Thoresby attack bowled an impeccable line and length with Shailesh Patel (3 for 28), Naeed Ahmed (3 for 26) and Bill Lippeatt (3 for 24) playing the starring role.

The Thoresby innings was a story of two men, Martin Cheshire who batted brilliantly to make an unbeaten 71 and Jason Gorman who took all six wickets that fell for 40 runs in a magnificent spell of bowling. Cheshire stood tall and remained in command throughout whilst wickets fell at the other end with alarming rapidity. At 62 for 6 one had doubts if anyone would stay with Cheshire until the end but he at last found a partner in Naeed Ahmed and this pair added 47 as victory was achieved at 109 for 6.

The same two sides meet each other in the Tomlins Trophy final on Sunday 12 th September at Central Avenue Worksop and with one win each to their names it is anyone’s guess how this decider will turn out. Don’t miss it, it starts at 1.00 p.m.

Notts. & Arnold Amateurs are fast taking over Farnsfield’s air of inconsistency role. They slumped to a disgraceful 29 all out in losing to Glapwell last week and then completely annihilated Cutthorpe on Saturday at Goosedale Lane . Batting first Notts. & Arnold fared better than last week but it was still nothing to write home about and 35 from Ian Flood prevented another major disaster as they were dismissed for 140.

Asadullah Butt (3 for 47) and Andy Knowles (3 for 32) bowled well for Cutthorpe but all their good work was to count for nothing as their side’s batting simply disintegrated in spectacular fashion. From the start of the innings, Cutthorpe were in serious trouble and were rapidly dismissed for just 52. Ian Flood who enjoyed a tremendous personal match took 5 for 12 and Justin Foss also weighed in with 3 for 11 as Notts. & Arnold completed a double over their opponents.

Cuckney who have enjoyed a terrific run of form of late came unstuck against another form team Glapwell who won much more easily than the nine run margin would suggest. Batting first Glapwell made 171 for 5 with skipper Andy Smith making a determined unbeaten 52, Mike Huckle (43 n.o.) and Dean Graney 30) on a pitch that like most gave some assistance to the bowlers. Paul Gurnell and Australian Dave Newman bagged a brace of wickets each but one got the idea that the conditions should have been used a little better than they were.

In reply Simon Shipp made a good 35 but Glapwell made early inroads and would not be denied. It was only a late swan song by Andy Stephenson who made 52 that drew the sides closer than they really were and Glapwell continue their march up the league and are looking very good at the moment.

Ian O’Brien made it 18 wickets in the last three matches taking 4 for 48 and the New Zealander has certainly made a huge difference to this Glapwell side. Great support came from Dean Graney (3 for 62) and Mike Huckle (3 for 27) as Cuckney were bowled out for 162 to give Glapwell yet another success.

Its as you were at the foot of the table although Worksop now look clear of any worries after beating Bolsover by seven wickets. Needing a win, Bolsover slumped to just 124 all out with only Steve Wooley ((35) showing anything like his true form. Worksop’s New Zealand import Brad Moore was the instigator of most of the damage taking 5 for 30 in a hostile spell.

Despite a good effort by their skipper Charlie Walker who took 2 for 50, this total was never going to be enough and Richard Hare (37) and Glen Pym (28) steered Worksop to 125 for 3 and victory which makes them virtually safe and Bolsover’s position looking even more precarious.

Edwinstowe put up a strong fight before going down in the last over to Farnsfield. Batting first Edwinstowe could only muster 155 for 6 with Ian Smith (75) providing the backbone to the innings. Mark Silcock and Neil Sharpe took two wickets each and Farnsfield must have been pleased with their performance at the half way mark.

This target however proved rather more difficult than one might have thought and Farnsfield struggled badly before finally making it in the last over. Paul Delaney (48), James Bennett (30) and Paul Franks (41 n.o.) were the batsmen in form as Farnsfield reached 158 for 6 whilst Garth Brown (4 for 62) and Ally Rhodes (2 for 44) kept Edwinstowe interested right up to the end.

Blidworth also went down again as Bridon beat them in a low scoring match by just three wickets. Batting first Blidworth were soon back inside for just 102 with only Dave Donaldson making any impression with an unbeaten 31. Colin (Percy) Hurst bowled his usual immaculate length taking 3 for 19 and troubled everyone throughout the innings.

Not that this was easy as Bridon lost seven wickets in knocking off this rather modest total. Had it not been for veteran Rob McLeod who made an outstanding unbeaten 46 and was the only player to record double figures, Blidworth might well have pulled off a much needed win. Pete Wood with 3 for 9 was the best Blidworth bowler, but there is still hope for them yet if they continue to battle to the end as they did here.

Marshalls are promoted to Division 1 for the first time in their history. They clinched their place with a winning draw and seventeen points against struggling North Wheatley with Leverton at South Wheatley. This was another match were a skipper led from the front and Marshalls Kevin Housham did just that with an unbeaten 94 with Chris Needham (29 n.o.) adding vital support as a total of 187 for 4 was reached when the overs ran out. In reply North Wheatley struggled badly against an inspired Mark Davies who took 5 for 61 as a score of 138 for 8 was finally reached. Dave Waller with 55 was the top scorer for Wheatley but Marshalls can pop the corks now because they are promoted as champions to Division 1 next season.

Killamarsh only need a further fifteen points to join them and to go straight back to the top section after being relegated last season. Their opponents Notts. & Arnold Amateur 2nds surprisingly decided to bat upon winning the toss and made a dismal 83 for 9 in their 46 overs. Adrian Rivington (5 for 29) took advantage of some rather negative batting by Notts and Arnold with Mark North making an adventurous 22 from 43 overs at the crease.

This target was never going to be enough and David Allen (46 n.o.) and Sam Malpass (32 n.o.) showed how the game should be played in knocking off the runs without the loss of a single wicket. Killamarsh have been a model of consistency throughout the season and deserve to be back with the big boys next season although they mathematically need a few more points yet.

Papplewick and Linby 2 nd have fallen off the wagon big style and they slumped to another dismal defeat against Anston at Papplewick Hall. Batting first Anston were dismissed for just 110 with only Jonathan Geary (47) preventing a rout. John Thrower (5 for 28) was the best of the Papplewick attack and the side must have thought they had done rather well when they went in for tea!

They had other thoughts afterwards however as a man whose name has been widely published in this column all season Andrew Ruczenczyn blasted though some feeble resistance to take 7 for 28 and bowl Papplewick out for just 65. Ruczenczyn was quite brilliant and totally unplayable and his contribution to Anston’s cause this season with both bat and ball has been immense.

Whitwell pulled off a brilliant win against N.S.K. who sank to a disastrous defeat at the Rookery. Batting first Whitwell were well served by the superb Alan Draycott (54) and and Andy Shaw (34) as they made 187 for 6 when the overs ran out. John Aspden (3 for 58) was the best of the N.S.K. attack but this score looked a good one in the circumstances.

One could hardly have envisaged what happened next however as N.S.K. were all back inside for a measly 50 runs. No batsman covered himself with any glory as Nathan Morris (5 for 20) and Andrew Heath (5 for 23) got the bit between their teeth and never let their grip slacken. This win means Whitwell are virtually safe for another season and with a performance like this it makes one wonder why they have struggled on occasions this season.

Blyth just get worse and worse. They were absolutely thrashed by Pilsley with seven wickets to spare in a disastrous showing at Oldcotes Road . Batting first (if you could call it that) they were dismissed for just 48 runs with Michael Thompson (5 for 17) and Dave Schofield (5 for 26) running through them like a knife through butter.

This target proved simple as Pilsley knocked off the runs for the loss of three wickets, and yes we haven’t mentioned Saeed Bin Nasir this week because he was hardly needed. That’s how easy it was for Pilsley.

Clay Cross slumped to another defeat this time at the hands of Eckington who still have a mathematical although very distant chance of promotion. Batting first Eckington were well served by Tom Dawson (58) and Steve Nicholas (51) as they reached 199 for 8 when their overs ran out.

This was always going to be enough and only Martin Letherday (47) stood in the way of James Daniel who bowled superbly to take 7 for 20 as Clay Cross were dismissed for just 91 runs to lose by 108 runs. Clay Cross will not be sad top see this season end and they need to re-group and start from scratch in the hope they can win their place back in this division at the first time of asking.