De La Salle plough on at the top
by David Bell, 20th July 2004

Entering the latter half of the season, three of the league's four divisions still remain very much in the balance. Division Four stands as the tightest at the moment with just twenty four points separating the first seven sides.

Current leaders are Transport. They were bowled out for 120 (Naseeb 4-21) by Dronfield Sports, who were restricted to 103-7 (Gul 5-38) in reply. Second placed Coal Aston had to settle for a considerable losing draw against Millhouses II. Millhouses piled up 200-4 (Sanderson 64, Dewsbury 59 no, Bailey 45) but saw Coal Aston hang on at 88-9 (Andrew Heaven 4-19). Third placed Zingari suffered their fifth abandonment of the season away at Stocksbridge III. Byers (80 no) guided Ridgeway to 132-2 declared in a rain affected game at Chesterfield Barbarians II, who held out at 48-8.

De La Salle plough on at the head of Division One. They were bowled out for 117 (Ed Bowers 4-40) by Parkhead. Sam Wainwright (7-25) saw Parkhead dismissed for 86 despite by a fighting 41 by Bowers in a good all-round performance. Old Edwardians / Collegiate stay in second, with a game in hand on De La Salle, who have now opened up a twenty nine point lead. Old Eds restricted Baslow to 124-6 (Ryalls 42 no) and achieved a five wicket win (Foulkes 43).

Sheffield Works Department move into third place. Holmesfield posted 138-8 (Neil Pearson 51, David Ward 50, Ian Lake 6-55) in a rain reduced game. Works gained a one wicket win from the last ball of the match (Alan Wake 57, Nick Crapper 4-36, David Ward 4-14). Hathersage bowled out struggling University Staff for 155 (Jon Hibbert 54) and made it home with two men to spare. Ashford tied Centralians down to 102-9 (Peter Marsden 5-42) in yet another rain affected game and reached their target with three men down (Andrew Paulett 51) to ease their relegation worries. A 164 run partnership between Martin Dawson (103 no) and Michael Cartwright (79 no) allowed Hundall to declare at 205-3 against Stanton, who fell just short at 189-5 (David Hadfield 69 no).

Runaway Division Two leaders Calver suffered a first defeat of the season against fellow promotion contenders Chesterfield Barbarians. Calver made 131-9 (Martin Roberts 5-40) from their reduced allocation, which was passed by the Barbs with five wickets in hand (Kevin Marriott 62). Second placed Grindleford scored 118-4 (Tom Outram 43 no) on a rain affected wicket at Stocksbridge I, who claimed a two wicket win despite Outram following up his earlier exploits with 4-21 including a hat-trick. Patel (4-17) and Clayton (4-58) saw Stocksbridge II bowled out for 110 and their Parkhead II side gain a four wicket success (Rolfe 4-54). SWD II against Bakewell also fell victim to the weather.

Its still nip and tuck at the top of Division Three as the first three sides all gained maximum point victories. Leaders Laycocks registered 165-8 (Winston Foster 48, Alan Hackett 56 no) at home to Hundall II, who were despatched for just 63. Second placed Dronfield Woodhouse were equally devastating, dismissing De La Salle II for 97 (Richard Barnsley 7-31) and sealing victory for the loss of two men. Completing the trio, Centralians II bowled out University Staff II for 67 (Marcus Jones 44) and gained their own eight wicket win (Chris Pickering 42 no).

Fourth placed BT Pensions / AGD suffered from an abandoned fixture after only three completed deliveries against Calow. Richland Wanderers made 144-6 (Chris Bell 41 no) at home to Old Edwardians / Collegiate II, who eventually settled for the draw at 127-9 in a tremendously close fought match that was a credit to the league.