Stanton wrap up Yorkshire and Derbyshire title for first time
by Mark Simmerson, 30th August 2006

At about 7.30pm last Saturday, with six wickets down Stanton clubbed the winning runs to overhaul Holmesfield’s 168-9 (D.Ward 72) and the Division One title was theirs for the very first time. Deserved Champions, Stanton won some tight games early season and then just kept winning, crucially beating closest rivals SWD twice. Well done fellas!

Elsewhere, SWD made 169-7 (P.Wilson 4-51), which Ashford passed with five wickets in hand (T.Smith 78, P.Carrington 47). Calver reached only 83 (N.Somerton 5-25), but when Hathersage had reached 43-2 the rain stopped any more play. De La Salle ground out to 128 (Akeel Sarwan 4-18), then dismissed Millhouses for 91 (S.Willey 4-17, M.Green 4-18). Parkhead made 201-9 (C.Pursehouse 4-56) and then bowled out Hundall for 160 (R.Parker 40, I.Davis 5-27).

In the bottom of the table battle at Sheffield Centralians, the home team made light of Stocksbridge’s 158-8 (E.Price 49, J.Ward 46, P.Kennedy 4-42), winning by eight wickets (J.Rhodes 71, D.Stow 62). On Bank Holiday Monday, Calver went to Stocksbridge needing a win to have a chance of retaining their Division One status. They set Stocksbridge 158-9 (T.Hilton 67, Z.Hanif 4-20). The Stocksbridge reply started badly, but they grafted to reach 137-6 (E.Price 55*), which gives them points enough to ensure their survival.Calver entertain Sheffield Centralians on Saturday - a game Calver must win and win well.

In the other games on Monday, Ashford walloped 241-5 with Andrew Paulett firing 138 and Tom Sweet 43. Shell-shocked Hathersage mustered 118 (J.Woolway 56). A torporific Holmesfield were blasted out for 75 (S.Wainwright 7-18) and lost by nine wickets to De La Salle (S.White 47*). Hundall scored 205-5 with Russ Parker exactly 100 (G.Badcock 62). Millhouses replied with great gusto, finishing all out just ten shy (N.Atrill 48, S.Hussain 41, J.Hughes 6-42). Parkhead made 169-7 (I.Davis 83) and sent back SWD for just 70 (C.Turner 5-10).

University Staff are Division Two champions and also promoted are Sheffield Collegiate III, the latter after just a single season outside the top flight. University Staff made 143-6 (P.Kerry 67, P.Sharman 4-66) on Saturday, then bowled out Chesterfield Barbarians for 98 (M.Sharma 4-31). Sharma also held four catches. Collegiate held Grindleford to 148-6 before openers R.Naik - 77* and A.Neylon - 64*, saw Sheffield Collegiate III to a ten wicket win.

On Bank Holiday Monday Sheffield Collegiate III scored 204-4, with C.Ash making a chanceless 63, R.Naik 43, M.Ellis 41*. In reply De La Salle II struggled to 106 all out. Baslow totalled 134-7 (D.Emmett 62*), University Staff winning by four wickets thanks to an unbeaten 81 from Paul Kerry.

In the other matches, on Saturday, Baslow beat Sheffield Centralians II by seven wickets (M.Taylor 46) in chasing 127, Parkhead II ran up 220-7 (M.Turner 68, W.Bamford 40) and had Dronfield Woodhouse 53-3 before the rain came. Rain prevented any play between De La Salle II and Sheepbridge. Bakewell hit 160-7 (J.Madin 50). SWD II replied with 136 (P.Naylor 67, I.Mallett 51*, W.Wallace 4-36). Amazingly, the Works innings contained eight ducks! On Monday, Bakewell were 128 all out (E.Blake 69), which Chesterfield Barbarians passed for the loss of five, Dronfield Woodhouse crawled to just 79-9 and Sheepbridge sprinted home to win by nine wickets (L.Tann 46). Parkhead II could only reach 126-9 (R.Ghose 5-43). Simon Pass smacked 92 not out as SWD II won without loss. Finally Grindleford’s home game with Sheffield Centralians II was abandoned due to the weather.

Ridgeway are confirmed as Division Three champions as they destroyed Sheffield Collegiate V last Saturday. Ridgeway smote 230-5 (K.Roberts 54*, N.Byers 41), then rolled over a much weakened Sheffield Collegiate V for 56 (L.Keys 8-13). Walkley made 143-8 ((T.Frith 43, P.Cotterill 5-47) and dismissed Sheffield Transport for 78 (W.Shore 5-28). Walkley will be promoted if they gain at least six points from their final game - away at Sheffield Collegiate V. however, Collegiate must win this match to be certain of avoiding relegation.

Transport, the other team in grave danger of the drop, play Stocksbridge II who are already down. Stocksbridge II were hit for 249-8 by Hallam III (T.Womack 112*, M.Wingfield 4-84) and in turn were sent back for 109 (M.Perry 59), a result that almost certainly keeps Hallam III in Division Three. Millhouses II made 108 (P.Smith 57, R.Pursehouse 6-32), which Hundall II reached with four down. Hundall must beat Hathersage II outright on Saturday to have even an outside chance of overhauling Walkley. For Hathersage II, debutant Ben Walker stroked 163 - the highest individual innings of the summer - against Whittington Wanderers, who were 122-2 (K.Tann 73) when rain stopped play.

Division Four leaders Whittington Wanderers II went down in a low scoring game at Chesterfield Barbarians II. Set just 92 (D.Whiteley 5-33), they folded to 72 all out (D.Dart 4-20), but will be promoted as champions if they gain just a couple of points this weekend. Sheffield Zingari bowled out Stocksbridge III for 137 (R.Newton 68) and went on to win comfortably by nine wickets. This sets up their final game with Sheepbridge II nicely. If Sheffield Zingari win, gaining fourteen more points than Sheepbridge II, Zingari will sneak into the second promotion spot. The result also condemns Stocksbridge III to the League wooden spoon. Coal Aston III mustered 91 (A.Lone 5-35), University Staff II passing this with three wickets lost. Dronfield Sports II were all out for 147 (S.Firth 47, Beresford 6-31), Baslow II running out winners by seven wickets (D.Emmett 84).