Reversal of fortune for Cuckney
by Paul Barker, 31st July 2007

A few weeks ago, the then leaders of the championship table, Cuckney bowled out Kiveton Park their nearest challengers for just 112 runs and were then dismissed for just 68 to relinquish their position at the top. On Saturday the return match took place and Cuckney gained revenge for this by taking a winning draw out of the game and moving back to the top.

This time there was no cave-in by the Cuckney batting as they put together a mammoth 254 for 2 with everybody helping themselves to a fair sprinkling of runs. However rightfully at the top of the bill stands Richard Stroh with a magnificent unbeaten 127.

If ever there is a player who deserves all the credit in the world it is this unassuming South African who when he first arrived around three years ago was primarily a bowler who could bat a bit. When one shows the dedication that Stroh has turned in, that person deserves to succeed. His batting has improved 100% and throughout this season he has been a constant source of runs for his side.

In fact Kiveton must have been delighted to see the end of the 50^th over because it was the first time this season that their attack has taken such a mauling. In addition to the brilliant Stroh, other notable contributions came from Kunil Jogea (39), skipper Will Butler (44) and Steve Bentley (32 n.o.) as Cuckney’s scoreboard operator had to work overtime to keep up with the rocketing scoreline.

In reply, Kiveton never recovered but it is to their credit that they were defiant to the end making 147 for 7 with Rob Coxon (44) and the promising Tom Neeley (31 n.o.) performing a terrific rear-guard action. Andy Stephenson (3 for 29) was the pick of the Cuckney attack, but one gets the feeling that there will be more twists and turns at the top before the season ends. Watch this space!

Arguably the best batsman in the league, Farnsfield’s Rashid Riaz did rather a silly thing in his side’s winning draw over third placed Bolsover. Although never at his fluent best, Riaz raced through to 99 before running himself out! When Riaz and Paul Franks are together it is usually a site to behold and this pairing were chiefly responsible for Farnsfield’s 253 for 9 with Franks adding 82 runs to the cause.

Steve Wooley with 3 for 73 was the best of the Bolsover attack but when the Farnsfield batting clicks into top gear it takes some holding and the rest wilted under the pressure put on them.

It was difficult to see Bolsover getting back into the game from this position but they are made of sterner stuff these days and they made a quite creditable 186 for 8 when the overs ran out. Skipper Mark Bull (40) and Andy Pierrepont (36) top scored for them, but what will have given Farnsfield the greatest satisfaction was the form of their younger players with the ball.

It is well known that Farnsfield’s youth policy is as good if not better than most and when you consider that 13 year old Michael Bell (2 for 32), 14 year old Sam Wood (2 for 37) and 15 year old James Smith (2 for 34 on his debut) did virtually all the damage against a side sitting third from the top of the league what they could achieve beggars belief.

There seems to be no way back for Worksop who are now clearly divorced from the rest of the field. When you are down you are out, and their latest defeat against Glapwell came with only one ball of the match remaining when they had looked down and out, but fought back gallantly and nearly turned things around.

Batting first, Worksop reached 174 for 6 with skipper Luke Ambrose (53 n.o.) and Glenn Pym (41) battling well against the odds. Glapwell skipper Dean Graney was the best of his side’s attack taking 2 for 33 and the whole side played the containment card exceedingly well.

This score didn’t look enough however and when Glapwell fairly coasted to 120 for 3 with Lee Topham (34) in good form it seemed just a matter of time. They reckoned without the nagging length of John Smith (3 for 52) and 15-year-old Conner Smith (2 for 23) though, as Worksop clawed their way back into the game with grit and determination that had Glapwell extremely worried.

Glapwell finally reached the target with just two wickets to spare mainly thanks to Danny Bircumshaw who top scored with 37 priceless runs and Worksop must have been cursing the luck that has dogged them all season. Glapwell will be delighted however as they are now emerging clear from the problems at the foot of the table.

Notts. & Arnold Amateur managed a winning draw against Bridon at Ordsall to leave the home side still third from the bottom, but they have now opened a healthy gap between themselves and Ransome and Marles. Batting first, Notts. & Arnold made a tasty looking 236 for 9 with Australian Tom Elliot scoring an excellent 94 plus good support coming from Mark North (34) and Sham Ahmed (32 n.o,.) as the score built up nicely.

Wayne Spooner (3 for 39), Simon Davison (4 for 81) and Alistair Skinner (2 for 31) all stuck to the task well and Bridon must have been more than happy that they had been able to contain the runs which looked at one time as if they could have been much more.

It was enough however as only Wayne Spooner (39) made much impression and Bridon closed hanging on at 141 for 9. Danny Nicholls (4 for 30) and Dave Wood (2 for 20) were the pick of the Notts. & Arnold attack, but both sides have crept that little bit further away from the nether regions of the table towards safety.

One of the most controversial things that happens from time to time is when a club’s premier side has their match cancelled or they don’t have a match at all and you then find a side strengthened immeasurably with some players who are then playing several levels below the standard that they are used to.

It happens all the time and you can guarantee that the side on the wrong end of it generally moan and I have to say with some justification. The problem is though, what can you do about it? Any serious ideas would I feel be most welcome by the league, because it won’t stop unless some legislation is in place to prevent it.

It happened at Papplewick and Linby 2^nd in their match against league leaders Waleswood and it certainly made quite an impact. Don’t blame Papplewick for doing it, because they certainly aren’t the first and they won’t be the last, but certainly when their Nottinghamshire Premier League match against Killamarsh was abandoned they took advantage by playing Luke Fletcher and Jim Rhodes.

Fletcher blazed away to a superb 80 but Waleswood did drop him three times along the way as Papplewick were held to 205 for 9 in their 46 overs. Matt Dear also batted well making 40 whilst the impressive Gareth Davis wheeled away to take 3 for 37 in a good stint. Skipper Simon Cope (2 for 24) and Pete Norbury (2 for 51) also added excellent support.

Whilst he didn’t capture a wicket, Jim Rhodes bowled just about the perfect opening spell with plenty of accuracy and movement which made it very difficult to score off. Wickets fell steadily and at no time did Waleswood look like eclipsing the Papplewick total but Gareth Davis as usual batted well making 54 runs before being caught in the deep by Jim Rhodes.

Waleswood were finally bowled out for 115, the last five wickets falling for only four runs and skipper Steve Alford (6 for 24) was certainly the hero of the hour. As I said earlier don’t blame Papplewick for taking advantage, they did nothing wrong, and whilst ever the rules are as they are, teams will continue to do it. If Waleswood miss out on promotion though through this result they will be thinking life isn’t fair and I have to say sometimes it isn’t.

Caythorpe 2^nd certainly came a cropper big style on their visit to Anston. Batting first Caythorpe had no answer to Andy Ruczenczyn who took 4 for 25 as Anston shot them out for just 103. This proved no problem to the home side who knocked off the required runs with Andy Forster (49 n.o.) and Mark Parkinson (26 n.o.) taking them to 104 for 2 and an eight wicket win.

Edwinstowe kept up the pressure at the top with a narrow three wicket win over Whitwell. Shaun Bullin was the architect of Whitwell’s decline as he took 3 for 23 as they were bowled out for just 119. Any thoughts Edwinstowe had that this would be easy were quickly dispelled as Andy Heath (3 for 34) quickly got amongst the wickets.

Had it not been for Pakistani Mohammad Wajihaddin who has replaced the injured Dean Elgar who has returned to South Africa, Whitwell may well have pulled off the surprise of the day. Wajihaddin made a superb 33 and Edwinstowe finally struggled home on 120 for 7, which keeps them well in the frame near the top.

Eckington also kept up with the leaders with a winning draw over Mansfield Hosiery Mills 2^nd. Batting first Eckington were brilliantly served by Ian O’Neill (87 n.o.) and Chris Ludlam (67) as they built up an imposing total of 215 for 3.

In reply, Hosiery Mills struggled to 165 for 8 with youngster Gareth Curtis (51) showing what a good player he is going to be. Ian O’Neill once again made his presence felt taking 4 for 45 as Eckington added another seventeen points to their tally.

Don’t write off Blidworth either! They have a few points to make up, but they are in a rich vein of form at the moment and anybody who thinks they are out of it is being rather foolish. However they almost came a cropper against a spirited North Wheatley with Leverton side finishing just four runs to the good whilst their opponents had two wickets to spare at the end of a thriller.

Batting first Blidworth amassed 194 for 9 with Humoyun Kabir (54), Andy Watson (41) and Karl Bayes (32 n.o.) all batting well. Against a side who have been struggling for most of the season, this score looked a rather daunting one but with Richard Robinson playing his best inning for a long time and scoring an excellent 66, North Wheatley kept closing in on this total only to finish on 190 for 8 when the overs ran out.

Everton are beginning to look rather desperate and the improving Mansfield & Pleasley thrashed them by eight wickets at Chesterfield Road. Batting first, Everton were saved from a rout by Peter Dobson who scored a terrific 42 out of an all out total of 125. Skipper Darren Walker (3 for 31) and Ian Woodall (3 for 29) did most of the damage as the home side continued their vastly improved form.

This total proved little trouble to Mansfield & Pleasley who skated to victory on 126 for 2 with Australian Brad Stengstock (47 n.o.) and David Williams (40) providing the bulk of the runs needed.