Long Eaton edge to league title
by SNCL Press Team, 2nd September 2005

Two brilliant individual performances made sure Long Eaton sealed their expected promotion to the Premier League with a 42 run win over rivals Calverton in Division A of the Gunn & Moore South Notts Cricket League. Batting first, a brilliant century by Brett Scothern, with support from Umair Hassan (71), enabled the league leaders to set Calverton a tough target of 230. But that never looked likely thanks to Andy Edge who took 6/61 as Calverton were bowled out for 177, settling the SNCL’s biggest issue with still a week to go.

Attenborough (181) are now just 6 points away from securing the runners-up slot after a close 5 run win at Eastwood (176) who had Usman Khan blasting 108 all to no avail. At the other end of the table there was a real genuine ’40 pointer’ at Southwell and it was visitors Balderton who took the maximum 20 points thanks mainly to Sri Lankan pace ace Ishan Ratnayake who chipped in with another 6fer as Southwell were bowled out for just 101. Alan Jackson’s 43 helped Balderton to a priceless 3 wicket victory that leaves it still all to play for at the bottom on the final weekend.

Runaway leaders Bottesford sealed the Division B title, also a week early thanks to a 4 wicket win that relegates Newark (103) at the same time. Paul Levers’ match-winning 4/33 means Newark join Belvoir, and most likely, Plumtree II who are virtually down after a disappointing 73 run thrashing by already relegated Belvoir (150). Belvoir’s Tony Wade with 57 and 4/5 doing the damage which now means Plumtree must beat promotion-chasing Radcliffe-On-Trent and hope that either Clifton Village II or Bramcote don’t pick up any points in their final games. An unlikely scenario, especially as Radcliffe (199/9) are still going strong and they need just 15 points from the Plumtree game for promotion to Division A after gaining a winning draw at Loughborough Carillon (189/7) this weekend.

Gedling & Sherwood (98) lost their grip on second place when they were soundly beaten by Newstead Abbey & Village (173/7) who had a top performance from all-rounder Andy Paulson who hit 50 and then took 7/20 to severely dent Gedling & Sherwood’s promotion hopes.

The title was also decided in Division C as long time leaders West Bridgfordians deservingly crossed the finish line with a 46 run win over Thurgarton (155). A result that condemns Thurgarton to a second successive relegation. Kimberley are now in pole position to go up with West Brdigfordians after they beat Wilsons (143) by 5 wickets. Jac Coupland hit 78 enabling Kimberley to take full advantage of Keyworth’s surprise slip up at home to relegation haunted Nottingham (156/4). Last day ‘C narios’ then are that Kimberley Institute II need just 11 points from their game at relegated Thurgarton to get the second promotion slot whilst at the other end Nottingham will send Wilsons down with Thurgarton and Radcliffe-On-Trent if they can beat promotion chasing Keyworth for a second week on the trot.

As in the top three Divisions, the D title was also secured on the penultimate weekend by ‘D best’ Attenborough II. They beat mid-table Hickling comfortably in the end thanks to Ian Baddeley (55*) and Chris Allcoat (14*) who came together at 60 for 5 and batted the champions (114/5) out of a tight corner and onto another victory. Last week’s hero Mike Aplin ensured some of his current Midas Touch rubbed off on another Aplin, Bryan, who had earlier set up the victory by taking a hat-trick in his spell of 4 for 8, helping bowl out Hickling for just 113.

Joining the champions in C next season will be West Indian Caribs who secured a second successive promotion with a crushing 128 run victory at lowly Wollaton II who are now back in the relegation zone after this thrashing. James Chulan (68*), Sagheer Akhtar (68) along with 3/8 from Daryl Samuels proved to be more than enough to see off the challenge of Wollaton. Elsewhere Risley still have a chance of pulling off the Great Escape as they pulled off an unlikely win at third-placed Old Paviors (133). Paul Addison (62*) guided Risley home by six wickets. Southwell II (122) are also in deep trouble after they were thrashed at fellow relegation battlers Stanton-By-Dale (264/6). Dave Savage’s 81 helped ease Stanton-By-Dale ’s fears.

In E, Long Eaton II, who are already promoted, suffered a rare loss at home to Collingham II, falling 22 runs short of Collingham’s total of 163/6. Second placed Farndon (236/6) made no mistakes against Lady Bay Boots II (132), with Daniel Hubbard racking up 111. Lady Bay Boots are now doomed to relegation, along with Wymeswold, who lost by 8 wickets to third-from-bottom Nuthall. There was something of a surprise in F as third placed Ravenshead conceded their game to second placed Underwood. Champions Calverton II comprehensively beat bottom placed Toton Sycamore, who they bowled out for 40, Matt Rankin taking 6/20 and Daniel Holloway 4/19.

Ellerslie II (178), who remain at the top of division G fell short against low-placed Lowdham (206). At the other end of the table, relegated Ruddington (128) had few answers to the bowling of Caythorpe III’s Luke Burns (5/16). Caythorpe knocked off the runs for 6 wickets quickly enough to gain maximum points and give them a possibility of promotion if Bramcote II slip up next week. Rolls Royce Leisure II (131) slipped from the champions’ spot in H after losing to relegation-threatened Edingley (135/4). Gotham Village II took full advantage, moving to the top of the table after putting on a modest 102 but then dismissing East Leake for 72, thanks to Tim Baker (4/10 and Brett James 3/15). At the bottom of H, Thurgarton II (107/9) are still without a win, this time losing out to Kinoulton (109/8) despite the best efforts of Neil Smith (25 and 7/18).

In Division M, Basford Hall Old Boys made sure of promotion with a 62 run victory over Underwood II. Mid-table Wilsons II made 248/7, with Amir Shazard scoring130, to beat relegated Chilwell II by 139 runs. In N, third placed Hucknall III's John Todd-Hunter took 5/7 against Plumtree III who could only muster 93 in a 65 run defeat. Mick Birch with 66* steered Snibston Grange II to an easy victory over top team Clifton Village III who were all out for a meagre 114. Kimberley Institute IV confirmed their relegation from P after making only 35 against Ellerslie III, thanks to the efforts of Neil Butlin (3/11) and R Garden (3/2). Ellerslie will now be promoted along with champions Gelding Colliery III. Thrumpton III are still without a win, although Bradbury Stoddart scored 63 in their defeat away at Poplars, for whom Austin Jones scored 72.

The two top teams in R made no mistakes; Lowdham II (189/8) comprehensively beating Shepshed Town IV (52) thanks to Panjit Singh (67*), Rob McCutcheon (45) and Ray Ahmed (6/19). Second placed Toton Sycamore II’s captain Donny Pezzolla scored 64 as they overhauled Collingham III’s total of 130/6.