Struggling Centralians upset SWD
by Mark Simmerson, 25th July 2006

Saturday saw the whole League programme washed out before tea by a monumental downpour, so SWD’s Division One game on Sunday at struggling Sheffield Centralians took on extra significance. A win for Works in this their match in hand over top team Stanton and the game would most definitely be afoot for the last third of the summer.

Batting first and aided by a plethora of muffed catches, SWD made 199-9 (B.Sampson 50). Cents made a solid reply, but then ‘PK’ - Paul Kennedy - took the game by the scruff of the neck in scoring 78 not out as Sheffield Centralians won by seven wickets. This upset means that the Championship is Stanton’s if, and a big if, they can hold their nerve.

In the abandoned games, Calver reached 142-4 (D Howie 74*) against Holmesfield, De La Salle made 141-3 (J.Hartley 62*) at home to Ashford, Hundall struggled to 66-4 versus SWD. Sheffield Centralians bowled out Hathersage for 105 (B.Furniss 46), Stanton reduced Parkhead to 78-5 and Millhouses were happy with 191-5 (R.Walsh 49) at Stocksbridge.

In Division Two, the top of the table clash with University Staff at Abbeydale saw Sheffield Collegiate III reach 159-6 (C.Ash 41). For DLS II, Nick Howard took 5-34 to reduce home team Bakewell to 93-8. Chesterfield Barbarians reached 121-2 (J.Denby 61*) at home to Sheffield Centralians II. Parkhead II were on 179-4 (W.Bamford 79*, I.Spilman 70) against Grindleford. Sheepbridge were 120 without loss (Whitehead 72*) in their game with Baslow and Dronfield Woodhouse were struggling at 120-7 (P.Holmes 4-45) at SWD II.

Division Three leaders Ridgeway had made just 124-6 (K.Roberts 56*) at Hallam III when the rains came. Walkley were 81-4 at Hathersage II, Sheffield Transport all out for 120 at Millhouses II, Stocksbridge II had reached just 43-2 at Sheffield Collegiate V and Whittington Wanderers were handily placed on 94-0 (A.Tann 54*) at home to Hundall II.

The Division Four leaders Sheepbridge II were almost certainly denied a win by the deluge as they had Coal Aston III in deep trouble at 82-9 (N.Sutcliffe 6-23). Stocksbridge III were 90-6 away at Baslow II, Dronfield Sports II, entertaining Sheffield Zingari, were 96-6 and finally Chesterfield Barbarians II had reached 99-5 (A.Lone 4-50) at University Staff II.