Calverton continue to lead the way
by Phil Johnson, 2nd July 2006

At the halfway stage of the season Calverton (201 for 9) continue to lead the way in Division A following their 32 run victory over Eastwood, Gedling Colliery remain second but were to fight all the way at home to bottom club Bottesford (244 for 8), skipper Shane Pidgeon (63*) eventually leading his side home to a three wicket success.

 Balderton continue to surprise and stay third after thrashing Ellerslie (165) by 92 runs with opening bat Tim Clipsham scoring a superb 157. In reply David Lynn (5 for 60) and Ishan Ratnayake (3 for 46) are proving a formidable new ball partnership.

After slipping back into the relegation places, Radcliffe picked up a vital seventeen point winning draw in an entertaining encounter at home to Plumtree.

Radcliffe recovered well from 110 to 5 to post a challenging 237 for victory thanks to half centuries from New Zealander Greg Hegglun and Matt Stewart, spinner Dallas Coull returning figures of 7 for 76.  Plumtree in reply, were tied down in the first half thanks to economical spells from Hegglun and veteran Mick Brooks. However in form Steve James (70) and Rob Tapp (69) increased the tempo in the heat and required 100 off the final 14 overs with nine wickets intact. The return of Hegglun (4 for 44) to the attack proved crucial though  as the visitors began to lose wickets at regular intervals and despite some late blows from Scott Bailey the visitors fell 14 runs short.

The game of the day undoubtedly was in Division B as Gotham (230), requiring one to win off the final delivery lost their last wicket and had to settle for a 17 point tie with third place Rolls Royce Leisure. No change at the top as four more wickets for Southwell’s Stephen Wright ensured an eight wicket success at Clifton Village II (87). Loghtborough Carillon (170 for 3) stay fourth following their seven wicket win at sruggling West Bridgfordians (166 for 8), Pallav Patel (72) recording his fourth half century of the season.

Kirkby Portland remain at the helm in Division C after a six wicket win at Plumtree II, skipper Steve Betteridge finally kick starting his season with an unbeaten 74. Another win for Keyworth (149 for 3) this time at Newark, however they still cant break into the promotion places as Attenborough II (221 for 7) picked up an eighteen point winning draw at Hucknall (183 for 9), Ian Baddeley (68) top scoring for the visitors.

At the other end of the table, Thrumpton skipper Steve Weightman suffered double agony, firstly he was dismissed two short of a century and then had to watch as fellow strugglers West Indian Caribs squeezed past the 218 target with two wickets remaining thanks to Sageer Akhtar (67).

Two tense finishes in Division D, firstly in the clash of the bottom two, Long Eaton failed by just two runs at Thurgarton (181), whilst at Old Paviors, Long Whatton’s Will Sutton took the final wicket with four balls remaining as the visitors were victorious by four runs to ensure they remain third in the table, earlier Dan Lester had made 59 in Whatton’s winning total of 188.

Elsewhere in D, Hickling (153 for 5) recorded their sixth successive victory, this time at home to fast fading Radcliffe on Trent II (148 for 9) who are feeling the brunt of the injury crisis which is affecting the first team. Stanton by Dale’s batsman Rob Ellen went one better than the previous two weeks fifties by cracking an unbeaten 102 as his side overcame Farndon (183 for 9) by four wickets climb to fifth in the table.

With promotion chasers Collingham II and Wollaton II without a game in Division E, it was left to Willoughby (228 for 5) to increase their lead at the top following victory at home to Underwood (151), Mark Lindley and Ben Boot both striking fifties for the winners. Calverton II (241 for 4) following their thrashing of bottom club Stanton and Awsworth (149) who are beginning to lose pace with the other strugglers, for the home side Ian Wright was dismissed for 99 whilst there more runs for in form Chris Miller (75).

Risley  (154 for 6) were victorious for the fourth time in five games but astonishingly remain in the bottom two which gives an indication of how tight Division E is shaping up to be. Their latest success came at home to Hucknall II who have now been dragged into the relegation scrap themselves.

On to G where Caythorpe III (114 for 9) made it eight wins in a row, however they were made to fight tooth and nail all the way by bottom club Toton Sycamore before gaining a one wicket victory. Nearest rivals Bottesford (136 for 8) slipped up at home to Epperstone (182 for 5) who change places with them in second. The other highlight in G was that there was a successful return to his home town club for Gotham II Shane Litchfield who made 62 in his sides eight wicket win at fading Rolls Royce II (108).

Hoveringham have broken away at the helm in Division H, Nick Walton scoring 50 as they crushed previously third Cotgrave (89) by nine wickets. A bad day for their rivals too, Kinoulton lost narrowly to struggling Bestwood Village (143 for 9), Enil Thompson with 52 for the winners whilst East Bridgford (63) were hammered by seven wickets at home to East Leake who now move into second.

The success story in Division J is undoubtedly the second team of Loughborough Carillon. Previous history has shown that the clubs second string has endured seasons of struggle dating back to their Alliance days. However this year, under the leadership of Ian Huskison they are producing some superb performances and none more so than on Saturday where they set a team record of 349 for 2 with Chris Turner (134*), Australian Ben Webb (79), Adam Ward (72) and Huskison (54*) all passing the fifty mark. In reply, shell shocked Stapleford had no answer and despite 52 from Darren Gelder they collapsed to 95 all out.

A good day for Loughborough just got better with news of heavy defeats for their promotion rivals. Gladstone (86) were thrashed at Sutton Bonnington (223 for 7) whilst Oxton (61) were hammered at Caunton , Malcom Hawley (4 for 18) and Andy Neal (3 for 13) producing the game winning performances. Finally in J, joy at last for Thurgarton II (148 for 7)who won at the eight time of asking, defeating home side Nottingham II (147) thanks to 53 from James Morrow and 4 for 22 from Callum Williams.

No change at the top in K as five wickets for Carrington Cavaliers’ Ashfaq Ahmed ensured they were successful at Lenton Abbey (148 for 8). Lambley (232 for 9) though kept up the pressure following a 25 run success over Risley II, David Marshall scoring 60 for the winners. Something had to give in the bottom two clash at Stanton by Dale and it was visitors Newark II who squeezed past the 88 target with two wickets remaining.

In Division L there was defeat for previous leaders Flintham at home to mid table Stanton and Awsworth II (127 for 8). The slip meant Burton Joyce (81 for 5) return to the top after victory at inconsistent Kimberley III (80). Basford Hall OB are the other side to benefit from Flintham’s defeat as they move up to second after defeating Woodborough (117) by eight wickets, Ian Cross scoring 50 and Andy Highton and Hugh Aubrey taking three wickets apiece for the winners.

Underwood II followed up their win over leaders Clifton Village III in Division M last week with a two wicket success at home to Lambley II (141). However the victory must have seemed a remote prospect at one stage as the home side had slumped to 30 for 6 before a captains innings of 67 from Neil Grainger saw them home. Elsewhere in M, not even a brilliant unbeaten 114 form Richard Drury and five wickets for Chris Legg could prevent Keyworth II slipping to a seven run reversal at home to Willoughby II (199).

Caythorpe IV finally came unstuck in N as they were beaten by twenty three runs by Newstead Village III (245 for 6), Ricahrd Muzeja struck a match winning 83 whilst an unbeaten century by Ricahrd Manning proved to be in vain. Farndon climbed to the summit with victory at Hucknall III, James O’ Leary remaining undefeated on 94. The performance of the day though was Gedling Colliery III young starlet Adam Burton. The 12 year old took 5 for 12 as Plumtree III collapsed to 32 all out.

No slip ups in Division P as the leaders Lowdham II’s overcame Beeston II (121) by nine wickets, Sallem Yasin taking five wickets, defeat however for nearest challengers Cotgrave II (114) who fell to a 24 run defeat at Toton Sycamore II in a 20 over game.

Some unusual circumstances in Division R as the World Cup took its toll on some clubs. Kirkby Portland rose to the top without bowling a ball as previous leaders Broad Street Arrows could not raise a team at Collingham III. Kimberley IV were the only top side in action, however they must have wished they hadn’t bothered as East Leake (300 for 3) and in particular Chris Cleaver (143*) put them to the sword. Shepshed IV’s A. Myers produced the divisions best figures as his 6 for 12 enabled his side to move into the promotion shake up with victory at West Bridgford Legion.