A weekend of team performances rather than individual heroics was the norm for this weekend’s fixtures, with only four centurions and four bowling performances of 7 or more wickets. Top of the pile was Dave Lynn of Balderton (150/7) whose 8/30 saw another defeat for Attenborough (76) who are already adrift at the base of Division A.

Long Eaton’s overseas player Umar Hussain (53)  helped his side to reach a modest 140 but then he took 7/60 to dismiss Gedling Colliery for 130. Rolls Royce Leisure (215/9) had high hopes against undefeated League leaders Plumtree, especially after Ross O’Conner hit 94*, but these were soon dashed as the leaders maintained that position with a 3 wicket victory.

Radcliffe on Trent, without a win so far, and a score of 127 away at Loughborough Carillon didn’t offer much hope of changing that. However Loughborough limped along towards the target losing wickets and overs along the way before hitting the winning run off the very last ball to win by just 2 wickets. Eastwood Town (125/6) bounced back from last week’s loss to defeat Newstead Abbey (122).

Bramcote moved to the top of the pile in Division B beating Hucknall (136/8) by 8 wickets, Con Griffin (67*) leading the side home. Thurgarton (201) hit the division’s highest score; a total Nottingham (169) were to fall well short of.  Belvoir (129/8) lost by 6 wickets to Newark  Gedling and Sherwood’s Paul McMillan (6/68) helped dismiss Ellerslie for 189, a total Gedling passed with 2 wickets to spare to inflict a first defeat of the season on Ellerslie. Gotham Village scored 149 and must have doubted whether that would be a defendable target, Bottesford (134/9) had a go but failed by 15 runs to share a draw.

Keyworth’s Rob Barker turned in a match winning performance at home to local rivals Plumtree II.  First he hit 105* as Keyworth notched up 215/4 and then took 4/15 restricting Plumtree II to 185 all out.  Kimberley Institute were equally indebted to Russell Kirk, he took 7/28 restricting Southwell to 192/9, all 7 wickets falling in his last four overs for just 13 runs. He then hit 41* off only 19 balls to guide his side to victory with an over to spare.

Wymeswold have had a bad time as they struggle without key players; Ian Welbourne (116*) inflicted more misery on the home side as Hickling amassed 244/6, the day’s highest score. Wymeswold fell short by 147 runs leaving them rooted firmly to the bottom of C/D. An easy day at the office for Collingham II (50/3), beating West Bridgford Legion (49) with Alan Ward starring, taking 6/13.

Farndon (211/6) came up against Gedling Sherwood II (154) who had Mike Phillips in excellent form bowling 12 overs for only 13 runs and then hitting 48. Toton Sycamore’s Tony Beck (5/26) took his wicket tally this season to16, dismissing West Indian Caribs for 142, however Toton Sycamore could only manage 83 in reply.

Lowdham’s Chris Wright hit 118* to chase down Kinoulton’s total. Earlier Gary Baker (60) and 15 year old Thomas Richards (49) steered Kinoulton to 219/4. However Kinoulton’s bowling attack has struggled all season and Lowdham passed the winning mark for the loss of only 3 wickets. Eastwood Town II’s Dwayne Buckley starred for the 2^nd wicket scoring 69* and taking 3/19 as Eastwood (118/5) easily beat Cotgrave (114).

Ellerslie II batted first and reached a modest 158, with Simon Claricoats taking 4/35. Simon then did his best to steer Bottesford II to victory hitting 51 but his side fell short by 5 runs in an exciting finish. Calverton II (122) slipped to their first defeat away at Epperstone (195/7). Liam Hartley was the hero for Epperstone with an all round display of 54 & 4/8.

In Division J, the top two clashed as Rainworth (85/1) easily dismissed leaders Gladstone (84). Newark II had a couple of star performers as first Graham Booth (92*) took his side to a respectable 184/5. Then it was the turn of Graeme Britten who took 6/17 as Risley II were restricted to 169/9 despite Paul Addison’s 80.

Attenborough III slumped to back-to- back defeats for the first time since joining the League 5 years ago.  They were at home to league leaders Hoveringham (136/6) who chased down Attenborough’s 132/7. Oxton were indebted to Michael Berry who hit 48 helping his side reach 166/6 and then ripped through Newstead II’s batting taking 7/29. Willoughby II’s Chris Arnold (82) looked like taking his side to victory away at Old Paviors (207/5) but fell short by 8 runs.

Arslan Shah (43 & 4/35) proved to be a match winner for Carrington Cavaliers (160/7) away at West Bridgfordians (156).  Dave Jones (97*) and Conrad Walker (76), of Bingham (239/3), had a field day at home to Whatton Aslockton II who were beaten by 98 runs.

After a few seasons of struggling, Stanton (157/7) are running way with Division N; they maintained a 100% record beating Long Whatton II (155/9). Clifton Village III boasted a lot of experience in their batting line up as Glenn Fairhall (44*) and Rik Smith (43) helped the 3^rd XI reach 186/7; leaders at the start of the day Snibston Grange II then managed only 122 and slipped down the League.  Plumtree III replaces them at the top after beating Farndon II (128/7) by 4 wickets. Thrumpton III’s (214/5) Tony Downey hit 119, six more runs than opposition Collingham III (113) could manage between them.

Long Eaton III managed to turn their season on its head as they amassed 234/8 away at Belvoir II (86) who had 9 teenagers in their line-up. Lowest score of the day saw Toton Sycamore II dismiss Edingley II for 41; a total they passed for the loss of 1 wicket.