Long Eaton close in on title
by SNCL Press Team, 22nd August 2005

A brilliant unbeaten 111 by Umair Hassan put Long Eaton just 16 points away from promotion to the Premier League and the 2005 title in Division A of the Gunn & Moore South Notts Cricket League. Chasing Plumtree’s 214/7, the champions’ elect cruised home by 6 wickets thanks to Umair and Tim Taylor (65).

Attenborough jumped from 5th to second after severely denting the title hopes of Calverton. Put in to bat, the former league leaders made just 115 and despite a 5fer for Calverton’s Pete Crawley and 4 for 18 from Tim Haynes, Attenborough (116/9) edged home in the 42 nd over of their tense reply.

At the other end of the Division A table it was a good day for the teams fighting for survival. Apart from doomed Gotham that is, who had their relegation confirmed with a 7 wicket defeat at Balderton (211/3) who themselves still occupy a relegation space. Hucknall Rolls-Royce (102/1) gave themselves renewed hope of avoiding the Division A trapdoor with a convincing 9 wicket victory away at Ellerslie (100). Leon Botha’s 62 keeps Rolls alive whilst Southwell (115/9) eased their back-to-back relegation worries with a nervous and narrow 1 wicket win at home to 4th placed Eastwood (114), who had Adam Lee starring with 5/14.

In B, Bottesford’s promotion was confirmed as they saw off nearest rivals Radcliffe-On-Trent (188/6) by 6 wickets. Dave Allen, with 91, top scored for the runaway leaders who are now just 10 points away from securing the Division B title. Gedling & Sherwood move into pole position for the other promotion place with a 4 wicket win at the Chateau against Clifton Village II (170/8). Jason Giblett agonisingly left high and dry on 99 for G&S.

At the other end of the table a century by Andrew Mitchell for bottom side Belvoir (254/8) showed they weren’t going down without a fight. A winning draw against Newstead Village & Abbey (156/7) was not enough though and they are relegated, whilst Newark ’s 4 wicket defeat at home to Loughborough Carillon (132/6) means they will need a miracle to avoid joining Belvoir in Division C next season.

Another demolition job by C leaders West Bridgfordians leaves them just one win away from the title. They skittled doomed Radcliffe-On-Trent for just 64 -thanks to Oliver Straw’s 5/20 and knocked off the target in no time to register a 9 wicket win that sends Radcliffe down. The other promotion slot is going to be filled by either Keyworth or Kimberley Institute II. Keyworth kept on-course with a six wicket win at lowly Thurgarton (106) with Chris Ladd’s unbeaten 48 the stand-out performance in a low scoring match. Hucknall’s challenge for promotion was all but ended by local rivals Kimberley who also won by 6 wickets (147/4).

In Division D their was an amazing finish in leaders’ Attenborough II’s game at Wollaton II and an amazing performance from their all-rounder Mike Aplin. Aplin’s 4.4 over bowling stint (5/10) helped the leaders finish off the hosts for 139. A low but as it proved, still a competitive total as the game went to the last ball where Attenborough needed five to win and thankfully for them Mike Aplin was on strike and he clubbed a huge six to win the game in the most dramatic fashion. The win means Attenborough II are promoted and they can secure the title next week at home to Hickling.

Hickling were beaten narrowly this week by second placed West Indian Caribs who themselves can secure promotion by winning next Saturday (at Wollaton). Wollaton II and Hickling are not yet safe from the drop but Risley are as good as down as they lost by six wickets to Southwell II (139/4) whose own dash for safety is gaining momentum thanks to a great all-round performance from Nick Nesbitt (5/36 and a brisk 89). Also improving their own survival chances were Lady Bay Boots (210/8) who soundly beat 3rd placed Old Paviors (144/8) by 66 runs. A century by Lady Bay Boots’ Shah takes them out of the bottom three.

In E, the two top teams made no mistakes; Long Eaton II getting the better of Willoughby on the Wolds (156/9) by 26 runs, and Farndon overhauling Collingham II’s 104/9 for the loss of 7 wickets. A spell of 5/8 from Daniel Hubbard, complimented by 35 from Mark Hubbard helped Farndon’s victory. The main excitement in F came from a tied game between Eastwood Town II and Gedling & Sherwood II. Gedling & Sherwood batted first and, with 113* from G Roberts and 50 from M Phillips, put on 211/8. Eastwood Town ’s top scorers were Mark Smith (51) and Chris Hilton (45) as they finished on 211/7. There was a surprise victory for second-to-bottom Notts Unity Casuals II over third placed Ravenshead. Unity set 258/5, thanks largely to two 16 year olds: Yasser Tariq scored 109 and Aaron Haycock got 77. Ravenshead could only manage 67 in reply.

Caythorpe III must have breathed a sigh of relief when they discovered that their loss away at Bramcote had not knocked them out of the promotion places in G because third placed Epperstone had also lost. Bramcote II (187/9) managed to dismiss Caythorpe III for 67 thanks to tight bowling from Mark Collins (4/25) and Mel Wood (5/24). Epperstone, meanwhile were unable to score more than 113 against top team Ellerslie II, who knocked the runs off with only 3 wickets down. At the other end of the table, Chilwell had a welcome win after dismissing Bestwood Village for 45; Ali Mohammed taking 6/18.

East Leake remained top of Division H in spite of losing away at Kinoulton. Kinoulton put on 191/9, with 98 coming from Shaun Campbell. Campbell then took 3/17, and along with 3/26 from Dave Lewis helped skittle the division leaders for 73.

The most notable event in Division J was the confirmation of Hoveringham’s third successive promotion. This was achieved with a crushing eight wicket victory at Stapleford (91), Stuart Walton in the runs again with an unbeaten 50 whilst Rashid Akhtar took 6 for 24. Hoveringham require four points for the championship. The battle for the remaining promotion slot looks like it will go down to the final week. Kirkby Portland remain second after demolishing now relegated Risley II (39 all out), Brett Jones taking another “five fer”. Hot on their heels though are Oxton who triumphed by 65 at home to Newark II (113) mainly thanks to a superb all round performance on return from injury by Simon Widdison (87 & 4/19). Kirkby remain favourites at the moment, however they entertain Hoveringham next Saturday.

Elsehwhere, Stanton by Dale II’s relegation was confirmed following a 50 run defeat at home to Gladstone , for whom Martin Widdowson and Pete Ford struck 83 and 75 respectively. Caunton (125/7) still occupy the third relegation position after losing by six wickets at Loughborough Carillion II.

Congratulations go to Newstead Village II who gained promotion from Division K with a 23 run victory over third placed Lenton Abbey. Pete Hand, who is more known for his bowling, top scored with 44 and with the ball, skipper Mick Crossland took 5/37. Defeat for Lenton Abbey meant is was a good day for second placed Sutton Bonington who increased the gap without even playing.

No relegation issues are yet settled and it’s two from four now. Woodborough will now find survival extremely difficult after a heavy defeat at home to Carrington Cavaliers (231/9). However both Attenborough III and Belvoir II have given themselves fighting chances of avoiding the drop. Firstly Joe Gates scored 75 out of the 100 necessary for Attenborough to defeat Nottingham Victoria, earlier Dominic Terkowski had taken 5/19, whilst Belvoir had Richard Gadd (44*) and Tom Neville (43) in the runs in their 24 run success over mid table Lambley (183).

Its two from three to go up in Division L as the leadership changed hands yet again. Previous holders Bingham (83) crashed by ten wickets at third placed West Bridgfordians II, for whom Nick Bell took 5/24. Stoke Bardolph take over again following a comfortable 58 run success over Flintham (133/8). Adam Meason notched another half century for the winners and with the ball Colin Johnson led the way with 5/35. Defeat for fourth placed Flintham means that their late promotion charge is over. Next Saturdays game between Stoke Bardolph and West Bridgfordians will go a long way in settling the above issues.

Relegation was confirmed for Old Paviors and Shepshed. Paviors had only nine men and lost to Kimberley III (79/3), Martin Stackhouse taking 4 for 17 for the victors, whilst Shepshed went down by 61 runs at Belton (177) who are now safe thanks to 60 from Stuart Taylor and 4 for 30 from Martin Radford.

In Div M at Keyworth the home side scored 182/5 with Keith Spence scoring 88*. Wilsons II won by for wickets scoring 183/6 with Brown 60* and Ahmed 57. Balderton II recovered from 22/6 to 94 all out but they remained 28 runs short of the target set by second placed Basford Hall Old Boys. In Div N, highest scorers were Caythorpe IV with 218/7 thanks in part to 14 year old Will Powell (57) and 13 year old Tom Lambourne (49).  Ruddington II replied with 130 , Alan Purser (56).

In Div P, Mahboob Azam of Beeston II was at it again with 5/8 and 51* as his team easily beat top of the table side Gedling Colliery III who were all out for 54 having struggled hard to raise a team. Second placed Ellerslie lost to Long Eaton III by one run, managing 125/9 in reply to 126 all out. Third placed Radcliffe On Trent III scored 180, with half centuries from two 15 year olds – James Ison (53) and Ben Davies (51). Derek Gilchrist then took 6/37 to help dismiss Kimberley IV 12 runs short. Kimberley IV are now relegated.

The two top teams in R both lost at home. Lowdham II were all out on Nelson (111); Nottingham III making the runs for 5 wickets down. Second placed Toton Sycamore scored 101, with Ray Barton making 65 of them, against Stanton Awsworth Elks IV (102/5).