Surprised Stanton head Division One
by Mark Simmerson, 30th May 2006

Bank Holiday weekend. Rain. Of course. However, most of the League programme was completed. Spare a thought, however for Coal Aston III - they haven’t bowled a ball yet. Stanton, probably to their surprise, were heading Division One going into a weekend which saw them play fancied SWD and the redoubtable Hundall.

First on Saturday, they scored a very handy 193-7 (Gladwin 64, D.Hadfield 58, Brown 5-74). When the Works top order failed, it fell to Brad Sampson (43) and Glynn Brown (51) to carry the game to Stanton. However, when they were dismissed Stanton bowled out SWD for 159. On Bank Holiday Monday Stanton made 188-8 at Hundall (D.Hadfield 49, M.Wain 44, Yardy 4-86) and then restricted Hundall to 111-9.

Stanton are top, just three points ahead of SWD, who made 185 at Olive Grove Road on Monday, (B.Sampson 41, R.Daly 6-46) and then rolled over Stocksbridge for 60. On Saturday De La Salle scored 139 (Badcock 5-48, Yardy 4-65), then Matt Green took 7-38 to bowl out Hundall for 109 despite a typically aggressive 51 from Marsh.

Holmesfield’s ground is so wet that they played at Grindleford, where Hathersage hit 176-8 (Kendall 59, Latin 4-55, N.Crapper 4-76). Neil Pearson made 49 as Holmesfield fell just short, all out for 168 (E.Henderson 4-28). The rain followed Hathersage back home on Monday, where their game against De La Salle was abandoned. Sheffield Centralians scored 194 (Kennedy 61, R.Wainwright 56, Walch 4-25, A.Khan 4-47), which Millhouses chased down with four wickets in hand (Dewsbury 68 not out, Gaubert 47). Ashford struggled to 125-7 (Hutton 4-24).

Stocksbridge in turn were made to battle hard as Wilson took 7-40, but Stocksbridge just edged the match by two wickets. Ashford were undone by Stuart Hallows at home on Monday, he snaffled 7-20 to send Ashford crashing for 56. However, Calver lost five before running out winners. Holmesfield scored 127-9 at Millhouses (J.Pearson 55 not out) and then Millhouses were unable to read Latin as he snared a season’s best 8-15. Parkhead’s game at Calver succumbed to the weather which leaves the Wheatsheaf men surprisingly bottom of the League.

In Division Two University Staff have already opened up a sizable gap at the top. Dave Needham again enjoying a good weekend. On Saturday his 110 saw his side to a seven wicket win. That after taking 4-50 to dismiss Parkhead II for 170 (Spilman 55, Burnett 40). On Monday he smote 48 not out from University Staff’s 108-5 and then took 6-48 to keep Bakewell to 86-8. At Olive Grove SWD II made 208-9 (M.Summerhill 64) and with Peter Holmes taking 6-28, Grindleford were all out for 116.

No other Division Two games survived the weather on Saturday, but only the game at Baslow against SWD II was lost on Bank Holiday Monday. Sheffield Collegiate III made 142-9 (Langdale 52, Chambers 5-28), which Sheepbridge reached for five wickets (Whitehead 43). Chesterfield Barbarians made 127 (T.Hayward 4-16) and bowled out DLS II for 83 (Sharman 4-26). DLS II are struggling in Division Two and are firmly adhered to the bottom.

Sheffield Collegiate V, after a poor 2005 in which they narrowly avoided relegation from Division Three, head the table. They scraped to 95-9 (Dewsbury 5-16). On a slow pitch of variable bounce Millhouses II were all out for 78. Hathersage II made 139-6 (Buckton 43), which Sheffield Transport reached easily, winning by eight wickets (Fox 69, Slack 44 not out). Stocksbridge II reached 116 (R.Pursehouse 5-62) Hundall II’s last pair were together, but they made it a fine style, ending the game with a six. Both Hallam III and Walkley, and Whittington Wanderers versus Ridgeway were sub-aqua.

The only fixture to survive in Division Four saw Stocksbridge III all out for 78 (Sutcliffe 5-22), which Sheepbridge II attained without losing a wicket. However, Chesterfield Barbarians II, after years propping up the League, must be chuffed to see themselves at the head of the table. Well done fellas!