Works Department remain unbeaten after Calver success
by Toby Lock, 13th May 2007

Sheffield Works Department maintained their unbeaten record as they travelled to, and beat, struggling Calver. Calver set a score of 147, which was met with overs to spare by SWD, despite losing 6 wickets. Second placed Holmesfield welcomed 4th place Hathersage, but took no mercy in their bowling attack. Hathersage were bowled out for 141, with N. Crapper taking a superb 6-39. Holmesfield scored 145-4, largely thanks to a great 59 from N. Pearson.

Third placed Sheffield Collegiate III struggled against Ashford in the Water. Batting first, Ashford scored 152. Collegiate saw out their overs, but struggled to 119-9.

Arguably, game of the day in Division 1 was the game between Parkhead and Stocksbridge. Parkhead batted brilliantly to score 223-7 with E. Simon scoring 65, E. Tillons scoring 55*, and A. Birkenshaw scoring 43. M. Hardwick took 4-14 for Stocksbridge. In reply, J. Sporton battled to 97*, but it fell just short as Stocksbridge reached 191-6.

Games were called off at De La Salle and Stanton in the Peak due to rain. Both games however were able to start. Hundall, who travelled to De La Salle, scored 47-3 before rain stopped play. Sheffield University Staff batted out their innings and reached 190-5, D. Needham top scoring on 47. In reply, Stanton’s L. Roslin scored a half-century as his side reached 104-4, before rain halted proceedings.

Rain caused havoc in the division 2 fixtures this weekend, with no fewer than three games affected. Table toppers Sheepbridge’s game with Chesterfield Barbarians fell victim to the weather, without a ball being bowled, with a similar situation at Grindleford in their game with De La Salle II. Walkley’s game with Parkhead II also felt the effects of the rain, but some play was managed. Parkhead declared on 219-9, with L. Clayton scoring a brilliant 104*, J. Gilson scored 53* and G. Wheatley chipped in with a strong 42. Walkley struggled to 27-3 before the rain set in and stopped play for the afternoon.

Fourth place Millhouses managed to complete their game at Bakewell, after scoring 178-7. In reply, Bakewell were bowled out for 111. Sheffield Centralians scored 160-3 dec in their game with Baslow, with Stowe top scoring on 41. A wonderful spell from Walker (6-60) ruled out a Baslow comeback, as they were bowled out for 139.

Lowly SWD II were convincingly beaten by Ridgeway, as they were bowled out for 52. Rodgeway’s Lee Key took a magnificent 7-30, giving his side a fantastic chance of victory. Ridgeway lost 3 wickets but met the total in just 12 overs.

Hathersgate II continued their dominance in Division 3, with an outright victory against Sheepbridge II. Batting first, the league leaders set a total of 158, with K. Siddall scoring 42. For Sheepbridge, a strong bowling attack of A. Geoi (4-70) and N. Sutcliff (5-21) was not enough to help their side. Sheepbridge were dismissed for just 59, with M. Percival taking an excellent 6-15.

Whittington Wanderers 1^st were restricted to just 129-7 in their innings against Sheffield Transport, largely due to the contribution of Transport bowler N. Gul, who took 4-70 in his spell. Transport however failed to take advantage, and were bowled out for 85, despite a knock of 40 from P. Jones. J. Needham took 4-9 for the Wanderers. Whittington’s 2^nd XI travelled to Millhouses II, and struggled to 75-8 off their 46 overs. Millhouses made the runs without losing a wicket, and M. Joyce scoring 54*.

Sheffield Collegiate V took on Hundall II at Carr Lane, home of Dronfield Woodhouse, in a tough mid-table battle. Hundall set a daunting total of 221-7 in their innings, with T. Oldham scoring 77. In reply, T. Leiper scored an unbeaten 82, but P. Gibson took 6-49 as Collegiate made just 112-7.

Performance of the day came in Division 4, in the game between Ashton in the Water II and Dronfield Sports Contact II. Ashton set a total of 159-6, with R. Needham (53) and K. Salts (43) top scoring. Up stepped 14 year-old Jamie Carrington, with ball in hand, and proceeded to destroy the Dronfield order. Carrington took a stunning hat-trick, and left the field with figures of 5-19 as Dronfield were bowled out for 104.

Chesterfield Barbarians II took on 4^th place Western Park Hospital, who are battling for promotion this season. This form showed as the Barbarians were bowled out for just 97. Western Park easily met the total, losing just 3 wickets, and R. Ivaturi top scoring on 50.

The game between 2^nd place Coal Aston III and 3^rd place Sheffield Zingari was called off due to rain.