Farnsfield bow out in style
by Paul Barker, 15th September 2008

One thing that ‘true’ champions always do is exact revenge on anybody who got in their way on the way to the top, and over the last few weeks, champions, Farnsfield have most certainly done that with a resounding win over Bridon, and a complete domination over Edwinstowe.

The latest performance against Edwinstowe was a victory in every sense other than they couldn’t take the final wicket. Full credit must go to Edwinstowe for hanging on at the death, but they were completely dismantled by this ruthless and very efficient Farnsfield unit. 

Batting first on a very wet wicket, Farnsfield managed a more than acceptable 201 for 7 before their fifty overs had run out. This was mainly due to excellent knocks from Paul Delaney (35), skipper Paul Franks (79) and that great enigma of Farnsfield cricket, Glyn Edwards who was unbeaten on 45 when the innings closed. It has always been believed and quite rightly so that Glyn has all the talent in the world, but has never produced it on a consistent level throughout his career. This was him at his best and it was a sight to behold.

In reply, Edwinstowe never really got started as Brett Hutton and Neil Sharp tore into them from the word go. Hutton who is an immense talent at the tender age of just 15, was irrepressible and no Edwinstowe batsman looked comfortable against him as he roared in to take 4 for 13. Sharp provided the experience and an immaculate line and length to capture 3 for 21 and Edwinstowe were hanging on desperately on 83 for 9 when the overs were completed.

Farnsfield will now take their place in the Nottinghamshire Premier League next season and deservedly so. It has been a much tighter campaign this time around, but overall they were the best side in the league despite the awful weather that has tried hard to spoil the party for everyone all summer.

Glapwell finished a highly satisfactory season with a narrow seven run victory over bottom club Waleswood at Park Avenue to finish in a respectable third place. Batting first, Glapwell were indebted to Ritchie Hope who top scored with a fine 79 out of a 50 over total of 171 for 6 on another extremely damp strip. Danny Bircumshaw and Matt Hall with 27 each added very valuable runs whilst Gareth Davis kept a stranglehold on the scoring rate taking 3 for 39 in an excellent stint of bowling.

However, Waleswood who have been prone to spectacular collapses all too often this season chose this fixture to show what they really are about and with Saqib Shah (68) defying everything Glapwell threw at him they neared the target before falling just seven runs short on 164 all out. This victory means Glapwell finish in third place and they are still a combative unit who will trouble the best on their day.

Marshalls who have had a very good season fell from grace in their last encounter when they were crushed with ease by a fast improving Retford side. With all the rain we have had recently making life difficult for the batsmen, Retford struggled against an accurate Marshalls attack in which Mark Davies (2 for 15) and Andrew Coles (2 for 19) were outstanding. That Retford reached 146 for 7 was mainly duo to skipper John Musgrove (32) and Paul Singleton (23) who applied themselves to the very difficult conditions very well.

Any hopes that Marshalls might have had of a victory were quickly dispelled and only Kevin Housham (28) made any impression against a Retford attack in which Sam Shepherd (5 for 9) and Pascal Broadley (3 for 24) proved to be virtually unplayable. Retford have played with increasing confidence as the season has progressed and could very well be a major threat to everyone next season, whilst Marshalls will be more than happy with the way they have performed throughout the campaign.

Cutthorpe concluded a poor season by finishing second from bottom on their final season in the league. This was mainly due to the fact that they have had a lot more matches cancelled due to the weather than anyone else but doesn’t disguise the fact that they would have liked to have gone out in more style than they have.

They didn’t do a bad job in the field, limiting Kiveton Park to 149 for 9 with only Australian batsman Ed Brown (63) making much impression against Andy Knowles who bowled brilliantly to take 5 for 29.

However they batted poorly and were dismissed for just 125 with only Matt Cluer (43) propping up a dismal batting display. Richard Spurr (5 for 33) and Lee Brooks (4 for 41) simply ran through the flimsy resistance, to give Kiveton maximum points and end a quite satisfactory second half of the season for them.

An absolute thriller took place at Fourth Avenue that saw Bridon gain a narrow one-wicket victory over Thoresby Colliery. Batting first Thoresby amassed a useful looking 191 all out with Martin Cheshire remaining unbeaten on a superb 82 and excellent support was gleaned from youngster Ben Marson with 37. Bridon were well served by Simon Davison (4 for 54) and Matt Makings (3 for 25) as they battled hard to quell the tide of runs.

Chasing the target, Bridon arrived on 192 for 9 in a desperate finish and victory. Wayne Spooner (37), Kiwi, Tim Muir (50) and youngster Ashley Corrie (48) scored the bulk of the runs whilst Martin Cheshire who was most unlucky to finish on the losing side after taking 4 for 57 in addition to his excellent batting, and Mansoor Khan (3 for 53) were the pick of the Thoresby attack.

The top of Division 1 was disappointingly decided with both Eckington’s match against Blidworth and challengers Caythorpe 2^nd at Ransome & Marles falling foul of the weather. Of the other games, Whitwell battled out a tremendous hard fought four wicket win over Mansfield & Pleasley. Batting first Mansfield & Pleasley could only make a paltry 87 all out with Andrew Shaw taking 5 for 11 from ten very good overs and Australian Matt Goodwright who has created an excellent impression also weighing in with 4 for 30.

Any ideas that Whitwell might have had that this would be easy were quickly dispelled as wickets fell regularly as Mansfield & Pleasley fought back hard. It was that man Goodwright once again with an excellent 31 that steadied the ship and with great support from Carl Curran (15) and Alan Draycott (16) they eventually crept home on 89 for 6. Matt Page (2 for 18) and Lee Galligan (2 for 28) tried extremely hard to turn things back into their side’s favour, but the target was just too small to defend.
At Sookholme Road, Welbeck 2^nd made an excellent start against Mansfield Hosiery Mills 2^nd with Alex Sears (47) and Rob French (32) scoring freely before the introduction to the attack of Keiron Garside and Matt New completely turned things on their head. Garside bowled with pace and hostility to take 6 for 19 from 13 overs whilst New provided subtlety at the other end with his well flighted slow bowling to take 3 for 42 as Welbeck crumbled to 129 all out.

With Matt New (28) and James Fraser (21) getting Hosiery Mills away to a good start the target looked flimsy to say the least, but when New was dismissed by Reece Wyborne a few colly-wobbles looked like setting in for a short while. However Bill Frodsham who has seen it all and got the tee-shirt guided them through with a masterly unbeaten knock of 31 and despite good efforts by John Ball (2 for 12) and Reece Wyborne (2 for 38), Welbeck simply hadn’t got enough runs to play with!

Anston have not so much as lost form but have totally disintegrated over the last couple of months and they put up another rather abject perfomance as they were easily defeated by West Indian Cavaliers 2^nd at Birchover Park. Batting first, Anston could make only 103 all out and had simply no answer to Zubin Faisal (5 for 20) and Umar Zamman (5 for 18).

Whilst they lost six wickets in achieving victory it was never in any real doubt as the same two players Umar Zamman (34) and Zubin Faisal (22 n.o.) carried the Cavaliers to a four-wicket win.

Worksop who have improved dramatically over the second half of the season went down to Papplewick and Linby 2^nd by eight wickets although it was nowhere near as easy as it might look.

Batting first, Worksop made 172 for 6 with Glenn Pym making an elegant 54 and Thomas Dangarembizi (24). Steve Alford (2 for 28) and Wasim Rana (2 for 48) were the pick of the Papplewick attack but the final score looked about thirty short of what they needed.

And so it turned out to be as Papplewick were made to battle all the way before victory finally arrived with just a few overs remaining. Rohan Shah who has had an excellent season top scored with a splendid unbeaten 87 and fine support came from Steve Thomas (51) and Richard Arberry (30 n.o.). The Worksop attack stuck to their task well, but with the wicket improving as the day wore on it was a lost cause although David Wheat (1 for 12) and Thomas Dangaembizi (1 for 43) both bowled very well indeed.