Blidworth complete the double
by Paul Barker, 11th September 2005

Whilst Saturday’s promotion winning effort may have been surrounded by controversy, nobody could take it away from Blidworth in their efforts on Sunday when they won the Tomlin Trophy in a last gasp affair at Central Avenue by three wickets over Cutthorpe.

Blidworth have certainly earned their success in this competition and no side could have had a tougher run to the final and victory itself. The list of clubs they have knocked out is mightily impressive starting with Worksop, Edwinstowe, Glapwell and finally Cutthorpe. When one considers that three of these clubs finished in the top six in Division 1 it really shows what an achievement they have pulled off.

Everybody can usually expect one fairly easy match, but Blidworth haven’t even been afforded just one. It certainly has been a marvellous achievement by a side who were relegated to Division 2 last season and were in the deepest despair they have suffered in a long while.

Skipper Dave Wood won the toss and inserted Cutthorpe in to bat and with the outfield being particularly wet after yesterday’s downpours, scoring runs was never going to be an easy task. Shots that would normally go for four were held up on the soggy and boggy outfield and only Karl Fields with 39, faced the Blidworth attack with any confidence at all.

Rollo Sharma (3 for 14) was the best of the Blidworth attack but the 133 for 8 scoreline represented a good effort in the conditions and Cutthorpe must have felt quietly confident at the half way stage.

Despite a good knock from Ritchie Gibbons of 36, Blidworth were soon fighting the clock as much as anything and with six overs remaining they required 42 runs at seven runs an over, a seemingly impossible task.

It was at this point that skipper Dave Wood who has done so much to mould Blidworth back into a solid unit, and Dave Wilcock came together and very quickly fireworks began to explode. With some audacious shots this pair hoisted the score up at an incredible rate and they completed the task with just three balls remaining in the final over on 136 for 7.

Wood played a real captain’s innings being 26 n.o. and Wilcock finished unbeaten on 23 as the thrilling climax was reached. Blidworth were then presented with the trophy for the first time since 2000 and as well as lifting the trophy Dave Wood was deservedly picked as man of the match for the way he led his team and the way he helped to see them home to victory.

And so another final is over and umpires Gerry Graney and Brian Rivington were praised for their handling of the match as well as the teams receiving commemorative medals for their part in an excellent final.