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Premier Division Review 5th September 2009
With just one game left of a topsy-turvy season there are still issues at the top and bottom of the table to resolve.
Little Stoke’s 20 points from their win in their game against Wood Lane is the Sentinel’s Match of the Day, left the door slightly ajar for Longton if they were to win batting first at Audley. This they did, by just 9 runs, to claim top spot by two points from Gareth Morris’ team.
Mike Longmore made a steady 33 for longton but they lost wickets at regular intervals in the face of a superb spell by Audley’s Andy Johnson (4-66 from 28 overs). At 104-7 the Longton innings was in danger of stagnating at best, but a rapid 44 from seasoned all-rounder Andy Kenvyn ensured that Pete Wilshaw’s team at least had someothing to defend as they closed on 161-9.
Professional Roger Sillence then continued his superb form for Longton with a devastating and match-winning spell of 7-31. Stefan Rduch put up soliod resistance with 36 against his previous team, but at 86-8 the game looked all over. But Johnson completed a fine allr-round performance as he and Dave Freeman put on 65 for the ninth wicket to put Audley within sight of victory.
But Sillence took two late wickets which could prove crucial this time next week. Longton now host relegation-favourites Leek whilst Little Stoke face a tricky derby game at local rivals and fast-improving Stone, next Saturday in what should be a fascinating end to the season.
Stone have had a great second half to the season and can still mathematically win the league after they won at Hem Heath, with the home team scrambling just enough points that should see them staying up this season.
Stone had Qaiser Abbas to thank for their 31 run victory as he struck an unbeaten 81 and took four key wickets in a fine all-round performance. He was given good back up from Luke Cheadle’s half-century with the bat and Russ Ballard’s five wickets with the ball. Hem Heath’s John Cheadle struck a fine 52 but it was in vain as Stone triumphed.
It’s tight at the bottom of the league with just 6 points separating the bottom three clubs.
As stated before, Leek face a mammoth task at Longton next weekend and they weren’t helped by losing a low-scoring game at home to Porthill. Richard Cooper and the in-form Colin Dearden both took four wickets for the Moorlands side as only Porthill’s Josh Butler put up any resistance in his side’s total of 120.
But Butler followed this up with three wickets and Mark Bengry took 4-24 as Leek struggled for runs and were eventually dismissed for just 100.
Leek are bottom but just a solitary point behind Leycett who had much the better of their crunch relegation game at Moddershall. Derbyshire’s Dan Redfearn returned to smash an unbeaten 115 for Leycett as they declared on 221-3, but the visitors might rue not declaring sooner as their hosts were way off the pace and settled for a draw on 153-8, with Chris Beech (66) once more in the runs for Modd. Leycett’s Rob Heath and Richard White both took three wickets and Ian Boulton’s men are just five points behind their opponents.
Next week, Moddershall face a trip to Knypersley and Leycett host Audley.
One-time championship favourites Knypersley have stuttered since half-way and they lost a low-scoring game at Burslem. Tim Goodwin’s determined 37 ensured that Knypersley reached 128, with Kevin Cockerton (5-36) and Ant Sheeran (3-34) doing the damage with the ball for Burslem.
The home side struggled in the face of an excellent spell from Darren Butler (6-44) but Josh Tittensor dug-in for an invaluable unbeaten 37 from 140 balls to see his side to a two wicket victory that keeps them in mid-table.
Division 1A Review 5th September 2009
Barlaston are the champions after a narrow one wicket victory at a Kidsgrove side that is staring at relegation in the face and could have been in even deeper trouble if Meir Heath could have taken Norton’s last wicket at Community Drive.
It was fitting that Barlaston’s veteran skipper Neil Davies struck the winning boundary which sealed their victory, although automatic promotion had been in te bag as soon as Kidsgrove had lost their second wicket.
Once again, Barlaston professional Niroshan Bandaratilleke was in prime form, and his 9-32 included a mid-innings hat-trick. Only Dave Leese (42) offered any real resistance with the bat for the home side in their total of 104.
At 97-5 victory for Barlaston looked assured, but excellent bowling from home professional Naj Shah (3-27) and Ian Bailey (3-14) made the visitors work hard for their victory until Davies smashed the boundary to start the celebrations as Barlaston’s 14 wins this season makes them worthy title winners.
Elworth looked certs for promotion a few weeks back, but they now have only a slender 10 point lead over a resurgent Whitmore side that visit Barlaston next week. Elworth lost by 16 runs at Cheadle and now face a massive game at home to Kidsgrove next Saturday.
Hamza Siddique’s 59 was the backbone of Cheadle’s total of 195-8, although Chris Barker’s 32 from just 26 balls gave the home side’s innings the momentum it needed. Steve Morgan was the outstanding bowler for Elworth with 5-46, but despite solid knocks from Rob beech and Jibran Khan, Shaun Rashid’s five wicket haul saw Cheadle home.
Whitmore have had a tremendous season and easily beat Sandyford in their last home game of the season. Imran Fazil once more showed great form for Whitmore with 5-41 with the visitors totalling just 118. Justin Mould’s unbeaten 47 then ensured that there were no slip-ups for the home side as they cantered home by four wickets to give themselves a real chance of a second successive promotion.
At the other end of the table, Crewe’s wretched season has now resulted in relegation to Division Two, and they didn’t put up too much resistance as they were hammered at home by Blythe.
Martin Baliey was once again the stand-out batsman for Blythe, and his excellent 95 ensured his side reached a commanding total of 210. In the face of Blythe’s new-ball attack of Rob Mozelewski and Pete Finch the home side capitulated to a meagre 84 all out, with only Nolan McKenzie (35 not out) showing any real fight.
It looks to be between Kidsgrove and Meir Heath who joins them in Division Two next season, and Meir Heath might regret not declaring earlier at Norton with the home side hanging on for a draw at the end.
Captain Richard Stonier and Joe Woodward made telling contributions to Meir Heath’s 200-9 (Greg Willott 4-33, Tony Dutton 3-32), but Dutton’s 47 ensured the home side closed on 129-9 (Chris Guest 4-31, Nick Locker 4-40) with Meir Heath losing a potentially crucial 14 points by not being able to take the final wicket. They now face Cheadle at home next Saturday.
In the divisions’ remaining game, Rode Park’s good finish to the season continued and they now lie fourth after easily beating Stafford by five wickets after Richard Irons’ 6-22 reduced the home side to just 89 all out. Ian Harding’s unbeaten 39 ensured that they easily reached their target.
Division 2A Review 5th September 2009
Betley need just two points from their final game to be promoted after their batsmen again came up trumps in chasing down Silverdale’s total of 201-7 (M Stokes 56, Z Lally 62).
Ex-Staffs wicketkeeper Jamie Jervis was once again in great form with a commanding 81 as Betley won by three wickets which should surely see them promoted next week.
Oulton are nine points behind them and will also have their eyes on the title after destroying Meakins. Pradeep’s 61 was the mainstay of his side’s huge 249-9 declared and he had good support from M Dawson’s 37 and D Kyle.
The home side lost wickets at regualr intervals and capitulated to just 85 all out. Oulton now have a 15 point lead over Weston who took maximum points from their game at Caverswall. Raj Kumar smashed 66 against his former club and despite a half-century from ex-Staffs player Rob King, Qas Haleem’s 4-46 ensured a comfortbale victory for the visitors.
Stone/SP were relegated back to Division Three as Newcastle won at Checkley. Adrian Keates’ 4-54 saw the home side dismissed for just 120, and despite Ian and Gavin Carr both taking four wickets, Newcastle crept home by three wickets thanks to Keate’s invaluable 58.
Stone/SP did put a huge dent in Bignall End’s hopes of staying up though, as they won by 23 runs to leave their hosts in huge trouble. Ade Butters and Neil Podmore made telling contributions in the face of Simon Howle’s 6-58, but Tom Holdway’s 3-8 ensured a victory for Stone/SP and leaves Bignall End needing almost a miracle to stay up.
Ashcombe’s season has petered-out tamely and they were easily beaten by Alsager. Paul Tibbetts’ 4-16 did the damage for the visitors and Olly Sadler’s 55 saw them pass the home team’s total of 138 for the loss of just four wickets.
Division 3A Review 5th September 2009
Wedgwood/Stanfields won an absolute nail-biter in the big promotion game at Bagnall. Once more they were indebted to Gareth Lello, whose unbeaten 72 made sure that their 143 was something they could defend. Moke Barcroft’s 5-27 was the pick of the home attack, but it wasn’t enough as Bagnall lost their last wicket on 141 in a result which sees them lying third, 10 points behind Wedgwood/Stanfields.
Moddershall A are 13 points clear of Bagnall after winning at Norton-in-Hales. Phil Manning’s 93 was the backbone of Modd’s 188-8 declared, and then Upal Indrasiri’s 4-52 reduce the home side to 133, and Norton-in-Hales are just 7 points in front of bottom club Woore who were hammered by nine wickets at Meir Heath/Fenton after they were skittled out for just 78.
Endon’s miserable run continued at home to Hem Heath/Forsbrook, and despite having 62 points more than Norton-in-Hales they won’t be happy at being third bottom of the table.
Simon Wood’s half-century saw the visitors to a commanding 256-8 declared, and M Wild’s five wickets saw the home side reduced to 155, despite Jordan Weaver’s spirited 67.
Hanford are another team who have had a disappointing second half to 2009, and they were easily beaten by an Oakamoor team with just a hint of promotion after a good run. Their 75 run victory leaves them 22 points behind the second placed team with their great run coming probably just too late.
In the divisions’ other game, Eccleshall won for the second week running after a narrow two wicket success at Porthill A.
Anthony Bunn 6th September 2009