Thoresby and Glapwell take it to the wire
by Paul Barker, 5th September 2005

After another day of pulsating cricket the quest for the championship of Division 1 is still as open as ever and both sets of players from Thoresby Colliery and Glapwell will be having nightmares all this week about how the outcome of the most thrilling season in recent history will eventually turn out.

Thoresby went into Saturday’s fixture with a sixteen point advantage over Glapwell but this has now been cut to a meagre three. Yes folks its excitement all the way and Thoresby will meet neighbours Edwinstowe at home next week whilst Glapwell travel to Kiveton Park .

Not that that is the end of matters because at the other end of the table Bridon face Marshalls also in what is almost certainly a decider as to who descends into Division 2. Bridon did themselves no favours at all getting thrashed by Worksop at Central Avenue whilst Marshalls increased the deficit between them and the Ordsall side to ten points by virtue of a losing draw against Cuckney.

In the match at Goosedale Sports Club between Notts. & Arnold Amateur and Thoresby Colliery it was a tragedy that someone had to lose after both sides served up a fabulous menu of attacking cricket. Batting first Notts. & Arnold put the usually tidy Thoresby attack to the sword and runs flowed freely from the bats of Australian Leigh Baldry (76), Ian Flood (65) and Mark North (55) as the Nottingham side built up a huge 246 for 7 total. Shailesh Patel was the best of the Thoresby attack taking 3 for 69 which represented a good effort with the batsmen being so much in command.

Not that this score deterred Thoresby who went for the jugular right from the word go and Martin Cheshire (48), David Irvine (74) and Richard Hope (35) put them in with every chance of victory. However at the same time that this was happening, wickets were falling at regular intervals mainly due to some fine bowling by Gareth Chapple whose 5 for 46 was the main difference between the two sides.

Thoresby were finally bowled out for 241 just five runs short of the Notts. & Arnold total and it must have been heartbreaking for them to have got so close yet been so far away.

This was a classic game between two excellent sides with some glorious batting by several individuals and as previously stated it was a pity someone had to lose. Thoresby now know they need a positive result next week to fulfil their dream and the way they are playing this will not affect them at all, they will definitely be up for it.

By the same token so will Glapwell who trounced a Cutthorpe side who looked a mere shell of the great teams that have turned out for them over the past few years. Although Tim Barlow (39), Nigel Kingham (30) and Asadullah Butt (32) all batted well, nobody went through with the effort to make the big score which would have boosted their total to something worthy of bowling at.

This may in some small way be due to the way that Iain O’Brien (5 for 28) and Matt Hall (3 for 53) bowled brilliantly, and there can be no doubting the fact that this pair are without question the most potent opening force in the league today as Cutthorpe were bowled out for a disappointing 158.

This target proved to be totally inadequate as Glapwell raced past it with six wickets to spare. Lee Topham who is probably the most improved batsman in the league made a magnificent unbeaten 72, and Matt Hall continued his great all round form with 48 as Glapwell replied with 160 for 4.

Whatever happens from now will not cloud away the memory left by this season which has seen some amazing results and it is now down to who holds their nerves best and who produces the performance next Saturday! We wait with baited breath.

Edwinstowe and Farnsfield have both had good seasons and have only just failed with their bids for the title. They met at Forest Corner and the result was a winning draw for Edwinstowe which sees them leapfrog their opponents and move into third place.

Batting first, Edwinstowe made a useful looking 229 for 6 with Ian Smith top scoring on 84 and Nigel Dunn (32) lending excellent support. As is usual Mark Silcock (4 for 81) carried the Farnsfield attack and this hard working Kiwi must be ready for putting his feet up after a torturous season and a mammoth amount of overs bowled.

Unusually, after some early losses, Farnsfield erred on the side of caution and at the close reached a rather disappointing 144 for 6. Only Dave Bell (53) and Paul Franks (32) made much impact against a steady attack in which Asif Zakir (3 for 27) was the most productive.

Killamarsh finally vanquished any lingering thoughts they had of returning to Division 2 with an excellent six wicket win over Kiveton Park at Sheffield Road . Batting first, Kiveton were brilliantly served by Australian Peter Coleborne (78) who batted superbly but lacked the vital support necessary to turn his teams total into a good one.

As it turned out they had to be content with a disappointing 164 for 9 which was mainly due to the magnificent bowling of Peter Allen (6 for 33) who is beginning to show his best form just as the season is running out!

This target always looked to be on the small side and so it proved with Paul Burdett who was captaining the side for the very first time leading the way with a tremendous unbeaten 62. Great support came from South African Hennie Basson (30) and Julian Carlile (38 n.o.) and Burdett finished off the match in style with a huge six to win the match as Killamarsh reached 170 for 4.

Cuckney kept up their recent good form with a winning draw against a Marshalls side who were hanging on desperately at the close. As it turned out this rearguard action may well have thrown them a lifeline as fellow strugglers Bridon were being soundly beaten at Worksop to leave Marshalls ten points clear at the bottom but it all depends what happens when these sides meet in the final match next week.

Batting first, Cuckney were all out for 185 with Simon Shipp (53) and Will Ullyott (33) topping the scoring charts and Mark Davies (3 for 69) and Paul Van den Heuvel (3 for 23) proving to be the best of the Marshalls attack.

Whilst not facing a huge score, Marshalls were quickly in real trouble and only some excellent rearguard action by Mark Davies (30) and Andrew West (32) saw them hold out on 143 for 9. South African Richard Stroh (3 for 35) and Simon Shipp (3 for 44) both bowled well for Cuckney but that last wicket still standing might well prove to be extremely vital to Marshalls .

Worksop totally trounced Bridon by six wickets at Central Avenue and left them staring relegation right in the face. Batting first, Bridon simply could not cope with Ramesh Sanjay (5 for 31) and Paul Burton (3 for 27) and were all out for a paltry 109 runs.

This proved nowhere near enough and Glenn Pym (30) led his side home in excellent style as Worksop made 113 for 4 to win a match in which no other result looked possible from the first ball of the day.

Bolsover increased their lead even further at Eckington with a 72 run win over Eckington which completely finished off any lingering hopes their opponents might have had of sneaking second place. Batting first, Bolsover failed to press home any advantage gained and whilst they did not lose wickets they certainly never looked like taking the Eckington attack apart.

Mark Bull (53) was first out but with Usman Saeed completing his fourth league century of the season in the final over, one would have expected his side to have made a few more than the 217 for 3 which was registered. Considering that Eckington had knocked off some huge scores here during this season, they must have been quietly confident during the tea interval.

It was not to be however as Bolsover skipper Charlie Walker made a spectacular early breakthrough taking three quick wickets which rocked Eckington back on their heels. It was to get worse as Eckington slumped badly to 42 for 7 and only a good stand between Mark Bridgeman who batted brilliantly for his unbeaten 61 and Simon West restored some semblance of respectability to the score. Eckington were finally bowled out for just 145 with Charlie Walker and Usman Saeed both taking 3 for 14 in what was a very good performance by the champions. Once again Eckington have fallen just short but one can be sure that they will be around again next season and this time it might well be their turn to look down on the others.

Just when it began to look cut and dried who was going up with Bolsover, the picture changed dramatically once again. Ransome & Marles who had gone on an amazing run of form had marched into second place with a twenty point advantage on Bank Holiday Monday evening, but that margin is now down to just six points after Saturday’s fixtures.

What looked to be a routine affair against North Wheatley with Leverton turned out to have nightmare proportions to it as Ransome’s went down by two wickets after trying and failing to defend eleven runs needed by North Wheatley in the last over. One thing that must have given Ransomes cause for concern all season even throughout their long successful period was their batting which has not produced the scores which you would have expected from a side seeking promotion.

However with skipper Gary Lambert and Australian Brett Richardson bowling so well and bagging over 100 wickets between them, this problem has been overlooked all season, but it came back to haunt them in this game. Batting first, Ransome’s were indebted to Nigel Murray who made an excellent 65 out of a rather inadequate total of 161 for 9. Former Retford star Jamie Bovill for the second consecutive week once again starred with the ball taking a mighty impressive 4 for 35.

North Wheatley were then well served by Wayne Harrison (53) and Martin Pring (53) but wickets were falling steadily mainly to Brett Richardson who claimed 7 for 61 in a tremendous spell. Incredibly enough, Wheatley needed eleven runs from the last over which was bowled by Richardson who had been Ransomes hero of the hour, but in a complete turn around, he went for the runs required and Wheatley squeaked home to give them a tremendous win.

Blidworth who had virtually looked out of it are now well back into the fray after crushing relegated Notts. & Arnold Amateur 2 nd by a massive 126 runs at Burmah Road . Batting first, Blidworth were always well on top and Ritchie Gibbons showed that the ‘glory years’ are not completely over with a magnificent unbeaten 110. Andy Norwood added 65 as Blidworth declared on 225 for 2 and threw down a challenge to the Notts & Arnold side which in their position they needed to take.

At no time did they look like doing it though and were all out for just 99. Sam Pallister (34) batted very well but totally lacked support from the rest of his colleagues. For Blidworth skipper Dave Wood helped himself to 4 for 31, and Richard Smith took 4 for 22 and the battle is still very much on.

In the last round of matches Ransomes will play Whitwell whilst Blidworth look to have the sterner challenge facing Papplewick & Linby 2 nd, but we will have to wait and see.

Papplewick and Linby are still not out of the equation, but they must rely on other teams rather than their own efforts for things to happen. On the shirt-front at Farnsfield a staggering 481 runs were scored with only eight wickets falling in an incredible run feast!

Batting first Papplewick and Linby 2 nd piled up 263 for 4 when the overs ran out. Tom Clarke (33), Robin Rhodes (82), Gareth Wheeldon (42 n.o.) and Matt Dear (61 n.o.) all scored freely especially the two not out batsmen who simply took the tiring Farnsfield 2 nd attack apart at the end.

The reply was just as impressive as Gary Peck played his most responsible innings ever as he piled up a tremendous unbeaten 120. Phil Tyler (38) and Mark Hallam (33) both added good support, and Farnsfield closed on a very respectable 218 for 4 to gain a well deserved consolation of seven points.

Anston came out of an appalling run of form to gain a four wicket win over Everton who are now safe from the dreaded relegation. Everton were again well served by the brilliant John Mimms (48) and John Leach 56 n.o.) as they made a respectable 179 all out whilst Anston skipper Ian Barley took 3 for 44 and Andrew Ruczenczyn helped himself to 3 for 36.

Despite a good effort by John Shaw (3 for 47) and John Waghorne (3 for 22), Anston cruised to victory with Kevin Vollans (69 n.o.) and Nigel Staniland (42) doing the business. Anston badly needed a win after a very indifferent run of form whilst Everton will benefit from this season and probably do a lot better next time around.

Once again it is customary to present the top of the bill last and that is what we have done once again. You won’t need two guesses to know that Saeed Bin Nasir has got something to do with it and his latest effort was another fantastic unbeaten 156 with Whitwell being the recipients this time around. The Pilsley maestro was aided and abetted by Dave Wright who made 48 as their side totalled a mighty 245 for 4 on a wicket that got progressively better as the afternoon wore on.

In reply Whitwell had one of their very bad days and were dismissed for just 113. All their batting failed very badly whilst Michael Thompson (3 for 46) was the most productive of the Pilsley attack which went on to record a mammoth 132 run win.

And finally one other performance most worthy of note is that Edwinstowe 2 nd who beat Welbeck 3 rd to gain promotion to Division 4 had without question the most staggering performance of the season. As the Welbeck spokesman told me ‘although I hate to say it, I can’t take away the fact that the guy bowled absolutely brilliantly’.

He was talking about Edwinstowe’s Ally Rhodes who in the twilight of his career took all ten wickets for an amazing 18 runs to bowl Welbeck out for 144. There certainly must have been a joyous celebration at Edwinstowe last night with promotion gained and this exceptional performance. Well bowled Ally and good on yer, mate.