Calverton fail to capitalise on Long Eaton slip
by the SNCL Press Team, 18th July 2005

Is was a rare bad day for leaders Long Eaton as they slipped up this weekend at Attenborough but 2nd placed Calverton failed to capitalise as they were also soundly beaten by Ellerslie in Divison A of the Gunn & Moore South Notts Cricket League. After Attenborough had set Long Eaton 216 to win, Martin Raynor’s spell of 6/33 had the leaders (100/8) on the back foot from the start and the visitors had limpet Ian Hopkins to thank for salvaging a losing draw as the opener batted all through the 48 overs for a dogged 16 not out. Calverton failed to make any ground though as they had no answer to Ellerslie’s 17 year-old batsman Todd Mills’ century and chasing 208 to win were surprisingly skittled for just 90.

Bottesford stay in pole position in Divison B despite 102 by Clifton Village II’s Barry Shepherd and a ‘devilish’ 6/66 from Craig Fairhall. Bottesford won by 27 runs. Third placed Gedling & Sherwood (179) got the better of 2nd placed Radcliffe-On-Trent (117/9) for the second time in a week but this time they had to settle for a winning-draw. Gerry Goodwin with 7 for 31 did the damage for Gedling whilst Radcliffe’s Nathan Jardine took a hat-trick on the way to a 5fer. Elsewhere struggling Plumtree II (309/6) were boosted by a massive 140 not out from Edward Woodcock which earned them a 164 run win over Newark (145) and another big haul by Newstead Abbey & Village bowler Nick Hand (6/47) helped them to a winning-draw at Loughborough Carillon.

Woodcock’s huge score was bettered though in Division C by Keyworth’s Ian Graham who blasted 150 as he almost single handedly chased down Hucknall’s 213/5. Keyworth won by 2 wickets and stay second. Figures of 7/22 by West Indian Caribs all-rounder Darryl Samuels kept them very much on top in Division D as they edged out Hickling (119) by 9 runs. Struggling Wollaton II (226/9) moved off the bottom with a welcome win at Old Paviors (213). Two ‘Andy’ contributions from Rattray (62) and Crossley (57) made the difference.

Just like their 1 st XI counterparts Long Eaton II ( 213/3) have a firm grip on promotion as they beat 4 th placed Farndon by 50 runs. Nuthall (118/8) recorded a rare victory which enabled them to reverse positions with their opponents, Lady Bay Boots II (115) at the bottom of Div E. Gedling Colliery II’s Steve Bateman hit 109* as they overhauled Wymeswold’s score of 214/8 with 7 wickets to spare.

In F, top team Underwood (118/7) suffered their first loss of the season away at West Bridgford Legion (119/8). Second placed Calverton II easily overhauled Toton Sycamore’s score of 140. Sycamore’s batsmen had found it hard going against the bowling of Matthew Rankin (4/28) and Dicon Perry (3/26), with only Jon Cunningham (67) really getting going. Whatton & Aslockton’s Simon Fillopowicz had a good day at the crease, finishing on 116 as his team beat Eastwood Town II (181) by 109 runs, despite the best efforts of G Painter (97).

Epperstone (229/6) stretched their lead at the top of G, with Richard Stanton (85) and Mark Taylor (43) piling on the runs. Ian Edwards then took 5/24 to help dismiss Lowdham for 142. Second placed Bramcote II (170/8) lost at home to Ellerslie II (251/6); star performers in that match being Alan Harrison (102) and Richard Renwick (50) for Ellerslie and Dave Withall (94) for Bramcote.

Top of Division H, Rolls Royce Leisure II (247/9) showed their class with another comfortable win, this time over Gotham Village II (148). Rolls Royce’s Anthony Ronstance (86) and Gordon Pearson (58) doing the damage with the bat and Ian Wade (6/50) preventing Gotham getting too close. The division’s top bowling performance though from Kinoulton’s Sean Campbell whose 6/19 helped restrict East Bridgford to 138 all out. Kinoulton then finished 4 short with 3 wickets remaining. Good all round performances came from Glenn Bell (40* and 3/19) for Rainworth Welfare, Steve Oakley (54 and 3/35) for East Leake and Andrew Elkington (4/42 and 28) for Edingley.

It’s as you were in Division J as Stuart Walton’s fifth half century of the summer enabled Hoveringham to cruise past Caunton’s target of 129 with eight wickets remaining. Earlier the visitors’ Nigel Howitt had top- scored with 60 and Rashid Akhtar had taken 5 for 20. Third placed Oxton poured more misery on bottom club Stanton By Dale II by amassing 351, Andy Draper striking a fine 123 and Mike Berry 96 not out, Stanton to their credit didn’t collapse and managed 194 for 4 in reply, Barry Taylor making 53.

Kirkby Portland II however did not slip up and stay second with a close fought three wicket victory at fourth placed Gladstone (190 for 9) who them selves desperately required the victory to remain in the promotion hunt. Mid table Loughborough Carillion II had Ian Huskison (5/31) to thank for their 32 run victory over Newark II (132). Despite Risley II losing to Stapleford (194) they climb out of the relegation places at the expense of Caunton by virtue of greater bonus points. In the match itself, Stapleford’s consistent performers Darren Gelder (75) and Aklak Hussain (55) both helped themselves to half centuries.

With Newstead Village II in Division K having no game, the chasing pack took full advantage to close the gap. In-form Sutton Bonington had the combination of Sturgess and Burgess grabbing four wickets apiece in their 86 run defeat of Carrington Cavaliers (86). Lenton Abbey remain third with a 24 run victory over Belvior II (115), this despite a half century form Richard Flower Senior and five wickets for Simon Clarke

Lambley also can’t be ruled out after trouncing mid table Nottingham Victoria (132) by 127 runs; Lee Morley (71), Karl Oakden (49) and Simon Stiansen (6/52) the main contributors for the home side. Something had to give at the clash of the bottom two and it was Woodborough (193/6) who came out on top over Attenborough (150/5), Paul Wilson the hero for the winners with an unbeaten century.

Bingham were knocked off the top in Division L and now trail by one point following a 10 run defeat at Flintham (148) who now climb to fourth. The new leaders are in-form Stoke Bardolph who thrashed previously third Breaston (78) by 6 wickets. For the victors there were three wickets each for Mark Pratt, John Rook and Dean Cowdell.

West Bridgfordians change places with Breaston following a comfortable six wicket win at home to Kimberley III, Paul Garton top scoring with 69. Thrumpton II had Grant Woolley (98*) and 13 year old Martin Weightman (53) in the runs in their 117 run victory over 10 man Shepshed III whilst Belton (217) eased their relegation fears with victory over bottom club Old Paviors II (174), Nick Leader (56) top scoring with his third fifty in four weeks.

In Division M, two 15 year olds making their debuts for Underwood II, Matt Sisson  & Matt Thorley both scored half centuries in their team's victory over Lambley II. Stanton Awsworth Elks III high scored again with 264/7, with Scott Law 78, in an easy win over Balderton II. Basford Hall Old Boys maintained pressure at the top with another big score of 232/4 against Wilsons II, with Dave Coote scoring 81 *  and John Smith 72.

Whatton & Aslockton II bounce back from last week's humiliation in N by emphatically defeating Snibston Grange II by 10 wickets. Paul Griffiths doing the damage with 5 wickets and Alex White with 3. Stanton Awsworth Elks III scored 262/9 against Long Whatton II with Matthew Anderson 66* and Dave Riley 42. Extras topped the half century with 56! 14 year old Alex Robinson scored 60* for Plumtree III in an emphatic 8 wicket victory over Ruddington II as team-mate P Jones took 5 wickets.

In P, Kimberley Institute IV's Carl Widdowson was amongst the runs again with 68* against Poplars for whom David Thompson had earlier scored 58. Radcliffe on Trent II beat Beeston II (98) by 129, Huw Owen-Jones scoring 82 and Matt Brown 75 despite Beeston’s Mahbobob Azam taking 4/21. Ian Lynn and Richard Burdett with 4 wickets each ensured victory for Cotgrave II over Long Eaton III despite Mark Wakefield's 67.

It’s all change at the top of Division R as Toton Sycamore II (107/4) beat bottom team Bingham II (103) to claim maximum points in their 6 wicket victory. Lowdham (140) had a tougher encounter at home to in-form West Bridfordians III (105) but the points dropped sees them lose their top spot. East Leake II (119/8) struggled to beat lowly Shepshed Town IV (110) but the win takes them back to third. Away from the top of the table was an epic encounter between Belvoir III and Nottingham III. Belvoir batting first saw Andrew Barnes 145, and 16yr old Tom Neville 157* put on a staggering 245 for the 2 nd wicket with Nottingham hitting a spirited 181/7 in reply.