Killamarsh take the title
by Paul Barker, 10th September 2006

It couldn’t have been more exciting if a script had been written about it, as long time leaders, Killamarsh Juniors took the Bassetlaw League Division 1 title by a single point from Cuckney who have come on strong over the last few weeks.

Needing seven points to be sure of the title, Killamarsh took exactly that in a hard fought game against local neighbours Kiveton Park who pushed them all the way to the finish. It is so very wise to be smug after the event, but one had the impression that Killamarsh knew exactly what they were doing and weren’t prepared to take any risks and lose what they had fought hard to gain all season.

Batting first, Kiveton made an impressive 213 for 6 with Tom Neeley (38) and Richard Spurr (68) leading the charge whilst Parminder Mudhar who has had an excellent season claimed another four wickets at a personal cost of 41 runs.

In reply, Killamarsh knew that if they were not bowled out, any score in advance of 180 would be enough and they closed out on 194 for 6 and the championship was won. Sam Malpass (41) and Pramuka Liyanage (63) were the batsmen in form whilst young Kyle McKeeman (4 for 54) bowled brilliantly in a terrific attempt to win the match for Kiveton.

And so the chase is over, and Killamarsh take the trophy for the first time in their history and quite frankly they deserve their success. They have been consistent all season and never relinquished their grip once they hit the top. They will be competing in the Nottinghamshire Premier League next season.

Runners up are Cuckney who did everything asked of them by slaughtering relegated Edwinstowe, gaining a maximum points haul and yet it was still not enough. The match was embarrassingly one sided as Edwinstowe were bundled out for just 97 and had it not been for Shaun Bullin who made 35, it would have been much worse.

The target set proved a cakewalk for Cuckney with skipper Will Butler blasting an unbeaten 55 as his side cruised to 98 for 1 and victory. Young slow bowler Tom Ullyott took 5 for 20 in a magical spell which totally bamboozled the Edwinstowe batsmen.

For Cuckney it has certainly been a marvellous season and had it not been for a mid season blip in form they would probably have won it. Better things are ahead for this side as they have a great mixture of youth and experience and one can only envisage them getting better and better.

Credit is even more due to them when one considers that only three seasons ago virtually a whole side left the club and they had to rebuild right from the bottom. To finish runners up and only fail by a single point shows how well they have recovered.

How do you finish third from the top of the league and get relegated the next season, ask Edwinstowe  they have managed it comfortably. In fairness to them several key players have missed virtually all season through injury, but it must be a crushing blow for a side who in recent years has looked to be built on a strong foundations only to knocked back savagely, and quite frankly they never at any time looked like crawling out of the hole they had dug for themselves.

Going back with them after only one season in Division 1 is Blidworth. Their story however is completely different to Edwinstowe’s as they did everything asked of them until the end of June and then collapsed virtually without trace. It didn’t help matters that three of their side are involved with football and were unavailable for the whole of the second half of the season.

Their latest opponents were Notts. & Arnold Amateurs who have had a most satisfactory season and they added another victory to their belt with a 94 run win here. After a bright and breezy start which saw Bill Trewartha (46) and Pete Evans (36) get Arnold away in fine style, both were out and when the dangerous Leigh Baldry was also run out by a tremendous throw from Ritchie Gibbons, Blidworth looked as though they might produce a shock.

Not so as skipper Ian Flood and Mark North dug in and added 142 for the fourth wicket before the latter was dismissed shortly before the end for a well made 59 runs. Flood who has had a tremendous season went on to claim another century finishing on an unbeaten 106. He was put down twice, but never let it worry him and was in total command all the time he remained at the crease. The final total of 288 for 4 declared represented a huge task for Blidworth whose main strike bowler was Richard Smith who took 2 for 60.

Things quickly got worse as New Zealander Doug Winger went early but this was the prelude to an enormous second wicket stand of 156 by Dave Willcock and Andy Watson. Both players struck the ball well and the gigantic score posted by Notts. & Arnold suddenly began to look vulnerable.

At 161, Trewartha playing his last game for Notts. & Arnold before returning to Australia bowled Willcock for a sparkling 84 and from this moment on a procession took place and 34 runs later, Blidworth were all out for 194. Andy Watson made an excellent 57, but nobody else made much impact as Leigh Baldry (6 for 45) and Bill Trewartha (3 for 26) easily mopped up the innings. Notts. & Arnold will miss this Australian pair next term, but they will remember both of them with affection for the good work they have done for the club.

A vintage Farnsfield performance saw them to victory and third place by eight wickets against Marshalls. Batting first, Marshalls made a highly respectable 238 for 7 with skipper Paul Van den Heuvel contributing a splendid 118 and Chris Needham 54. One thing of note in this innings was the first ball delivered by 14 year old Michael Bell which uprooted Kevin Housham’s middle stump, not a bad way to start one’s first XI’s career!

It was not enough however as the Farnsfield run machine sparked into gear and they crossed the line in glorious style on 239 for 2. Paul Delaney was in prime form with a magnificent unbeaten 114 and excellent support came from James Bennett (54) and Rashid Riaz (56). Once again, Farnsfield have fallen just short although they have enjoyed a very good season, whilst Marshalls have struggled once again after the shock of losing their Australian import for the second consecutive season after about a fortnight in the country. One can only wish them better luck next time around.

Cutthorpe finished the season with a win over Bolsover who have had a satisfactory season after their promotion in 2005. Batting first Cutthorpe amassed 258 for 8 with Asadullah Butt making a brilliant 146 and Simon Barlow (350. There can be no doubt that at his best, Butt is still one hell of a player and Bolsover were unlucky enough to run into him in prime form.

Not that Bolsover were prepared to give up easily as Akram Khan (69) and Andy Rogers (43) made a real dart at Cutthorpe’s imposing total. It was just a few too much however as Bolsover were dismissed for 194, losing by 64 runs. In the match between these two sides at Cutthorpe, Nigel Kingham wrecked the Bolsover batting and he showed what a liking he had for it once again taking 4 for 37. John Combe who has stepped out of the shadows as a bowler in recent weeks took 3 for 42 in a good Cutthorpe performanace.

Half way through the season, Glapwell were plumb bottom of the league, but I doubt if there was a single person who thought they would be relegated. Sooner or later things had to come good and they have finished in a comfortable mid table position. In their final match they easily saw off the challenge of a rather poor Worksop side by a massive 157 runs to collect another twenty points.

It didn’t help matters that they took the field with only nine men to start the game and were soon under the cosh. Matt Hall (58), Rob Davison (42) and Iain O’Brien (35) helped Glapwell reach 246 all out against a Worksop attack in which Ramesh Sanjay (5 for 46) proved to be the only threat.

Worse was to follow as Worksop were hustled out for just 89 with young Daniel Bircumshaw taking 4 for 5 with his leg spin and Gary Saxby 3 for 21. Only Glen Pym with 32 saved Worksop from complete humiliation and had it not been for their good early season form they would have been pushing Blidworth and Edwinstowe all the way to stay up.

Ransome & Marles are Division 2 champions! After last season’s disappointment on the final day it was only fitting that they should go up in style this time around and they wound the season up with a seven wicket win over Farnsfield 2^nd.

Batting first Farnsfield who have had a poor season which has culminated in their relegation , didn’t make a bad fist of things as they reached a respectable 207 for 8. Trevor West (32), Phil Tyler (38) and Gary Wilson (41) all acquitted themselves well whilst Paul Taylor (3 for 49) was the pick of the Ransomes attack.

All season, Farnsfield have struggled to bowl teams out and this was no exception as Ransomes raced to 210 for 3 and victory. Ian Sellars (34) and Tony Betteridge with a top quality knock of 157 saw them to the nineteen points needed for the title and as in Division 1 they have took it by a single point from Bridon.

In their match, Bridon took the full twenty by beating North Wheatley with Leverton by eight wickets. Batting first, North Wheatley reached 159 all out with Wayne Harrison top scoring on 55. Wayne Spooner bagged 5 for 51, and this was only a prelude to his encore which followed in glorious style.

Spooner took on the North Wheatley attack with both venom and style making a magnificent 102 as Bridon reached 163 for 2. Roger Wells supported well with 40 and Bridon are back were they belong after just one season away.

Eckington piled up a massive 270 for 2 against Whitwell to finish third and in many other seasons their points tally would have been enough to see them promoted. Rob Carlile signed off with a superb 104 and other fine knocks were recorded by James Daniel (60 n.o.), Julian Carlile (47) and Chris Ludlam (33 n.o.) as Whitwell endured an afternoon of leather chasing which had never befallen them in the rest of the season.

Despite a fine innings of 64 by skipper Alan Draycott and 31 from Nathan Morris, Whitwell were bowled out for 165 to give Eckington a 105 run win. Wayne Dye who has enjoyed a great season took 4 for 23 and Luke Dawson also weighed in with 4 for 24 as Eckington concluded the season in style.

A cracking match at Anston ended in a tie with both sides recording 231 runs each. Batting first the home side were well served by Kev Vollans (57), Andrew Ruczenczyn (38), Ian Barley (40) and Steve Maddock (28) whilst amongst this feats of batting Darren Shepherd took 3 of the nine wickets to fall at a cost of 58 runs.

In a frantic finish, Hosiery Mills reached 231 for 5 to tie the match. Paul Wilkinson (38), youngster Gareth Curtis played an assured knock of 46, Daniel Kilvington (39), and Darren Johnson (49) were the batsmen in form as the Ryton Road ground witnessed one of the finest and most exciting matches showcased by the league this season.

Papplewick & Linby 2^nd finished on a high note against down and out Notts. & Arnold Amateur 2^nd. Batting first Notts. & Arnold made a rather poor showing only registering 90 all out and had it not been for Danny Nicholls (39) and Imtiaz Ahmed (26) one shudders to think how bad it would have been. Steve Alford took 4 for 4 in nine overs and proved virtually unplayable.

In reply Papplewick sailed to victory in good style with Steve Waite (43) and Steve Thomas (40 n.o.) taking there side to a very comfortable eight wicket win.

The final match in this section was at Everton were the home side came a cropper and went down to a huge seven wicket defeat at the hands oF Mansfield & Pleasley. Batting first Everton had simply no answer to the irrepressible Ian Woodall who took 4 for 22 as they were bowled out for just 102.

This score was never going to be enough and Mansfield & Pleasley cruised to 104 for 3 with Freddie Parker (32 n.o.), Ian Woodall (30) and Kevin Evans (32 n.o.) making the job look incredibly easy as their side finished an impressive fourth in the final table.