Plumtree continued to dominate the top Division and seem unstoppable as they climb towards the Premier league, with more than half the fixtures completed. They registered a fifth win after scoring 240/9 away at Eastwood (124) and boast an incredible 4 point average gap over their nearest rivals. All three Plumtree sides now occupy top spot in their divisions.

Another dominating performance came in Division P where bottom club West Bridgford Legion II won their first game of the season against fellow strugglers Radcliffe on Trent III. Jamie McGilp featured for the first time ever in the league’s top performances when he hit a staggering 186* as Bridgford scored an amazing 272/4 to beat Radcliffe (180/8) by 92 runs. Richard Adams 8/22 was the top bowling performance as Kimberley II (189/9) beat Nuthall (74).   

Attenborough (107/5), who are turning their season around after a poor start, made light work of beating Loughborough Carillon (106). Balderton’s (123/6) victory over Newstead (120/8) leaves Newstead in the bottom place and facing the strong possibility of relegation after only one season in the top flight. Radcliffe on Trent (126/6) could be joining them as Gedling Colliery (187/9) kept alive their own promotion hopes with this winning draw.  4^th played 2^nd as Rolls Royce’s Leon Botha finally hit a telling score as he racked 101 off 121 balls pushing Rolls Royce to 289/8 against the devastating bowling of Umair Hassan (4/96). Long Eaton’s spirited challenge ended in a losing draw on 239/8.

With Division B leaders Gedling & Sherwood’s match at Newark abandoned, 2^nd placed Ellerslie (158/4) closed the gap with an emphatic win at home to Nottingham (155). Thurgarton (109) slipped deeper into relegation trouble as they lost at home to Bottesford (112/9) who eased their own worries in a tight finish. Bramcote (126) suffered a setback to their promotion hopes losing by 101 runs to Gotham Village (227/8) who overtake Bramcote in the table.  A close finish in the final B game as Hucknall (183/7) clung on to a winning draw as Belvoir made every effort for victory, closing 7 runs short with a wicket in hand.

Plumtree II’s win over previous leaders Kirkby Portland saw the teams swap places, Plumtree (187/8) winning by 40 runs. Wilsons (152/9), who had suffered a couple of back-to-back defeats, returned to winning ways beating Old Paviors (150/7), but Paviors had chances for victory. Risley shared a batsman’s paradise at Southwell (172/3), in reply Risley (175/3) took all but 2 balls of the allotted overs to reach their target.

There was controversy at Hickling as opponents Clifton Village left the ground before the game was officially abandoned. Awsworth (55) and Nuthall are in deep relegation trouble as both suffered heavy defeats to West Bridgfordians (56/4) and Kimberley respectively. Wymeswold (96) are also struggling as they lost to Attenborough II (178/8). Lady Bay Boots (213/9) seem to be getting back on track, after a poor start, they beat Stanton by Dale (109).

Long Whatton suffered a surprise home defeat to lowly West Bridgford Legion in Division E/F. Batting first, Whatton scored 170/8 but Bridgford rose to the challenge to sneak past the target with two wickets to spare. This meant the undefeated Gedling Colliery moved top without playing this weekend. A tight finish in the game at Beeston (173/8) as Collingham (177/4) snatched victory in the final over.

The division’s best bowling performance came from Toton Sycamore’s (126) Tony Beck (5/45) but his side lost heavily to Willoughby (202/9). Ruddington notched up a first win of the season away at Ravenshead, whose Chris Mason hit 111* but was disappointed that his side finished 3 runs short of Ruddington’s 234/4.  Nottingham set Thurgarton a target of 178/2 and were delighted that when the innings closed Thurgarton were 1 run short of a tie. Calverton II (126/6) beat Snibston Grange (124) to enhance Calverton’s promotion hopes but to dent Snibston’s.

Eastwood Town II (183/6) took advantage of the slip up to move into 3^rd position as they beat Bottesford (133) by 50 runs. Bramcote II’s (123/7) promotion hopes were dented when Cotgrave (124/8) stole victory in the final over. Fight-back of the day is awarded to Stapleford, who at home to Gladstone were 72/9 before Mark Greatorex and Neil Gelder (59*) put on 74 for the final wicket. Gladstone fell short by 20 runs.

Lowest score of the day goes to Loughborough Carillon II (26) who lost the plot in their run chase at Risley (180/5). Lenton Abbey (270/9) annihilated Shepshed III as skipper Gavin Childs hit 87 off only 35 balls, Shepshed managed only 48 in response. Steve Daykin (140) ran riot as Newstead Abbey II (277/5) beat Lambley (144). Lambley II faired no better as Keyworth (153/7) passed Lambley’s total of 149/8 with a ball to spare.

There was another nail-biter as Bingham (201/8) took every ball available before overtaking Gedling & Sherwood III (200/8). Kaisar Altaf  (41*) dislocated his knee but returned to resume his innings for Carrington Cavaliers (138/7) as Nottingham Victoria honed in on victory having posted (134/8).  Toton Sycamore were grateful to another personal best from wicket keeper Peter Manning, who followed his 60* of last week with 62 against Nottingham III. Struggling at 56/4, Toton recovered to 194 with Nottingham’s 16 year old Tom Eccles taking 5/53 including two caught and bowled.  But Toton restricted Nottingham II to 75 in reply. Gedling Colliery III (64) suffered a first defeat away at Long Eaton III. (87).