Sun shines on Collingham
by Phil Johnson, 4th June 2006

Finally the sun shone and Collingham (201 for 5) lead the way in Division A following a thirty five run success over struggling Radcliffe, David Pipes (95) top scoring for the winners. Defeat was rather harsh on Radcliffe’s overseas star Greg Hegglun who starred with both bat and ball with 55 and 3 for 37.

Calverton (192 for 5)  have now moved into second following a five wicket win at home to Gedling Colliery who suffered a second consecutive defeat, Peter Crawley and David Fraser Darling both scoring fifties. Relief eventually for Bottesford (182 – 6) who claimed their first victory of the season at home to Ellerslie, Simon Claricoates making 73 in their successful run chase. Plumtree (156) remain rooted to the bottom following a 64 run defeat against Eastwood who had local lad Neil Gregory turning in a fine all round performance with 77 and 5 for 12.

There’s currently no stopping Newstead Village (110 for 1) in Division B as they recorded their fifth win of the season over struggling Bramcote with Nick Hand’s four wicket haul adding to his two “five fors” so far this season. Spinners ruled the roost at Southwell in their home game against Gedling and Sherwood. Firstly the visitors Gerry Goodwin and Alex Norton took four wickets apiece as the home side were dismissed for a below par 154. However Stephen Wright then got in on the act with five for 49 as Gedling fell 27 runs short.

At Rolls Royce, Kimberley;s slow left armer Steve Johnson rolled back the years with 5 for 26 as he put a severe dent in the home sides promotion challenge in a 90 run defeat. Elsewhere, Gotham’s Kevin Perrell celebrated his recall to the first team with an unbeaten 91 as the visitors easily overhauled Clifton Village II’s target of 137, whilst at Loughborough, openers Julian Richardson and John Harrison both recorded unbeaten fifties in the home sides ten wicket success at home to West Bridgfordians, Loughborough climb to third and on this showing look a good bet for honours this season.

Kirkby Portland (200) remain top in Division C following a 64 run success over local rivals Hucknall, Steve Richardson making 82 for the winners. Portland’s lead at the summit was increased following Attenborough II’s surprise seven wicket defeat at home to Thrumpton (126 for 3), skipper Steve Weightman striking 72 to lead his side to their first victory of the season.

Moving into a threatening position though are Keyworth who are beginning to fire on all cylinders, thrashing previously unbetaten Nottingham (109) by 143 runs, Ian Graham took five wickets and spinner Rob Baker four including a hat trick. West Indian Caribs (246) finally showed some form, Garfield Lewis putting the claws into the Newark batting with 7 for 26 as the home side recorded a 127 run success over the strugglers.

We may be only five games into the season but Radcliffe II have already built up a useful lead in Division D, Simon Ward taking six wickets in their latest success at home to Farndon (101). Long Whatton move out of the promotion places after a bad day at the office condemned them to a six wicket defeat at home to mid table Thurgarton (136 for 4), captain Godfrey Rodrigues steering his side to victory with 52. Wilsons take Long Whatton’s place in second following a 110 run victory at freefalling Stanton by Dale (115). Elsewhere Gareth Rees followed up his unbeaten 98 last week with a further 84 as his Old Paviors team (217 for 4)recorded their second successive victory over inconsistent Lady Bay Boots (179).

The match of the day in Division E between Wollaton II and Collingham II more than lived up to its billing. To begin with, Wollaton;s student Luke Budden followed up his impressive season form of 47, 33, 73, 157* with another magnificent unbeaten 130. How badly Wollaton will now miss him remain to be seen as Budden now returns home after studying in the city. Collingham were up against it chasing a mammoth 306 but ex Notts CCC man Paul Todd struck an astonishing 173, crashing 14 4’s and 13 6’s in his teams valiant reply of 221. Incredibly there was still 14 overs remaining when Collingham lost their final wicket.

Elesewhere in E, Risley (202 for 7) grabbed victory off the penultimate delivery to record their first win of the season and send losers Stanton and Awsworth to the foot of the table. Willoughby on the Wolds have moved almost unnoticed into third following a 53 run success at Underwood (88), Ben Boot and Gino Taj taking three wickets each.

In Division F, Whatton and Aslockton and in particular Simon Filipowitcz (108) made a brave attempt to chase down Wymeswolds target of 230, eventually failing by six runs with two balls remaining.

The form book was turned on its head in G as previously bottom Beeston (175) thrashed Rolls Royce II by 91 runs, Mark Spibey the hero with 6 for 25. Replacing Rolls at the top are Caythorpe III (223 for 4) who had Colin Baker striking a superb 130 in their 41 run success over Bottesford II. Epperstone (130) move into third after a thirty run win over Lowdham, the Edwards family starring with Ian and Richard scoring 54 and taking 4 for 18 respectively.

Cotgrave are the new leaders in H following their 45 run success over Kirkby Portland II (215), Hoveringham replace Kinoulton in the promotion places after overcoming Chilwell’s target of 145 for the loss of only three wickets, the prolific Stuart Walton making an unbeaten 93. Joy at last for Rainworth who comfortably disposed of Bestwood Village (102) by six wickets, David Lloyd top scoring with 65 for the winners.

The top of the table clash in J saw Loughborough Carillon II comfortably dispose of Oxton (126 for 9) by six wickets, Will Relf striking 52 for the winners. Gladstone move into third just below Oxton thanks to Lee Hopes who produced a splendid spell of 7 for 51 to defeat Nottingham II. Newstead Village II are out the relegation places and again it was Malcolm Townrow who top scored for the visitors as they defeated bottom club Thurgarton II (149 for 8) by five wickets.

In K, relegated Stanton by Dale II (85) were hammered at West Bridgfordians (257 for 6) who had Paul Garton, Samit Sundaresan and Stuart Smedley all scoring fifties, Stanton remain bottom. Bingham move up to mid table after Pete Waltons magnificent unbeaten 125 helped his side to a five run victory over Lenton Abbey (190).

Burton Joyce remain top in L following an easy nine wicket success at home to Breaston (91), Darren Smith taking five wickets for the winners. Flintham move into second following a 52 run success over Kimberley Thirds (156), and Basford Hall Old Boys are third, winning again by the margin of one wicket for the second week runnning, this time it was Adrian Cooper (58*) who nudged his side past strugglers Stanton and Awsworth’s target of 144.

The top three sides in Division M were all victorious, Underwood (187 for 5) beat Willoughby II by 12 runs, Old Paviors II cruised past Balderton (77) thanks to five wickets from David Todd and Clifton Village (266) had Jamie Dickinson (89) and Scott Fairhall (85) in the runs in their thrashing of Shepshed Town III (130).

Caythorpe IV stay top in Division N as they hammered Stanton and Awsworth III who slumped to 34 all out. The hero in this division however was Newstead Village III’s batsman Andrew Darrison (40*), his side looked down and out at 72 for 9 chasing Chilwell II’s target of 127, but together with the last man, 13 year old James Bauher put on 57 for the last wicket for an unlikely victory, defeat was rough on Chilwell’s Sudaka Peraveli who took 6 for 18.

Its as you were in P as Lowdham II head the table after a five wicket win at Epperstone II (137 for 6), just below lie Long Eaton III who were victorious by at Cotgrave II and were indebted to Sam Lister who took 5 for 17.

There seems to be no stopping league newcomers Broad Street Arrows (301 for 7) in Division R. Their latest victory was a crushing 211 success at Bingham II, Mike Cupit crashing a superb 140 and Raj Kalkhani taking 6 for 17.

Kimberley IV have moved up nicely into second, veteran Carl Widdowson scoring 52 in the 116 run win at home to East Leake II (67). Still no joy though for Stanton and Awsworth IV who were hammered at Thrumpton III (68 for 2) by eight wickets, Thrumpton climb to third.