Davis the destroyer as leaders Radcliffe lose

THE weather was the winner with more than three-quarters of games lost to the conditions but what action there was in Division A saw leaders Radcliffe-on-Trent lose their unbeaten record in a tense encounter at Southwell.

It was a good toss to win for the home side as the visitors struggled against the Southwell attack. Matt Davis (5-38), who had been disappointing the previous week, bounced back to claim his second five-wicket haul of the season.

Davis was assisted by 16-year-old George Bacon (3-16) as Radcliffe fell away to 145 all out in the 45th over.

Keeper Will Torr (45) and Marc Ellison (39) batted well.

Tim Green (34) got Southwell off to a good start before Chris Miller unfortunately ran him out. Rob Sutton (3-47) brought Radcliffe back into it but the losers were ultimately 30 runs short as John Richardson (28*) saw his team to victory in the 51st over.

Gedling Colliery had a vital early breakthrough at home to Long Eaton, with South African Leon Botha being dismissed for one.

However, that was as good as it got as the brilliant Brett Scothern (116) racked up back-to-back centuries.

Andy Edge (47) and Tim Taylor (33) also weighed in for a total of 246 in only 42 overs. For Gedling, Daniel Mather (4-44) did a fine job.

In pursuit, Jeff Burton (60) continued his good form. Skipper Tom Coffey also made a half century, but the home side failed to keep up with the rate required and ended on 220-3, claiming nine points for a losing draw.

Only one game survived in Division B and it was another North Notts clash as Hucknall and Newstead Village met at Hayden Lane.

After a quiet fortnight, Robin Maxwell (64) burst back on to the scene as he and veteran Graham Cauldwell (59) both impressed.

Ian Lobb (25*) ended the innings with a little cameo to set Newstead a target of 212.

They made a decent start thanks to Richard Greatorex (48) and Andy Graham (28) and at 116-3 it was anybody's game. However, not for the first time, the spin duo of Jamie Braybrook (3-71) and Adam Scott (2-38) turned things the way of Hucknall leaving Andy Lumby and Matt Williams hanging on for the final three overs on 176-9.

Three games survived in Division C and all involved sides challenging for promotion.

West Bridgfordians had Charlie Garton (54) and Dave Terrill (40) in the runs at home to bottom club Attenborough II before a 16-ball onslaught from Oliver Straw (34) got the total up to 170.

In reply, Attenborough never looked like chasing it down, finishing on 94-7, with Kushal Shah claiming three victims.

Collingham were made to fight all the way by fellow candidates Bottesford. The losers posted 147, skipper Mike Fowler top scoring with 40.

David Pipes then added to his five wickets by scoring 42 as the winners squeezed home with two wickets intact.

Kirkby Portland restricted Radcliffe-on-Trent II to 117 in 42 overs thanks to five wickets from John Williamson. This was despite 37 apiece from Huw Owen-Jones and Graham Lockwood.

There were few alarms in the visitors' pursuit as Steve Richardson (44*) and Steve Betteridge (31) eased them through in 26 overs.

The sole game in Division D saw mid-table Wilsons get the better of under-performing Thurgarton. In a game reduced to 32 overs per side, Nadeem Ghani and Kish Patel both struck 50s as Wilsons set a target of 171.

Colin Cliff (55) was back in the runs for Thurgarton but with the exception of Sam Smith (35) there was too little support and they fell 22 runs short as Ghani and Iftikhar Ahmed picked up three wickets.

Hoveringham strode further clear in Division E with a five-wicket success at nearest challengers Southwell II. Liam Harris (46) top scored for the losers who were kept in check by the in-form duo of Scott Shore (4-56) and Brett Lear (3-36). In reply, Hoveringham got off to a decent start through Nick (21) and Stuart Walton (23) before Ben Lee (76) stroked his side to victory.

Hucknall are now up to second with another nail-biting finale, at Farndon. The home side struggled to 142 as spinner Paul Harley added four wickets to his five last week. Hucknall looked to be cruising at one stage thanks to Ross Brown (32) and Rob Stewart (29).

Yet three and two wickets for Andrew Laughton and Ben Ryder, coupled with two run outs, meant a dramatic collapse. Credit to young Adam Whyley (28*) who kept his head to win the game for Hucknall with two deliveries remaining.

Kinoulton's pitch preparation following the rain paid off as they climbed out the bottom two with victory against fellow strugglers Caythorpe III.

Kinoulton managed 160 with Malcolm Healey (51*) top scoring. Caythorpe's Matt Staszkierwcz (56*) had been a prolific run scorer for the fourth team and saw few problems with the step up.

Unfortunately, no team-mates followed suit as the side fell to a 30-run defeat.

In Division G, leaders Whatton and Aslockton (175) soon returned to form at Collingham II (122). Whatton's Alex White has been a consistent wicket taker this season but it was his batting that shone, top-scoring with 77. After tea, John Moncaster (4-20) ensured a comfortable success.

Another player in form is Rob Rhodes of West Bridgford Legion. He snaffled four Ravenshead victims then watched David Roper (63*) strike his team to a six-wicket success, chasing 121.

Epperstone could only manager 63 at home to Beeston & Toton Sycamore. For the winners, veteran Dave Fawcett added four victims to his seven last week.

Sutton Bonington march on in Division J with a three-wicket success in an entertaining game at Bevloir II (175).

The Cartledge brothers, James and Steve, both hit 50s for Belvoir but they were undone by Adam King (37*) and David Appleby (36), who got their team home with seven balls to spare.

Woodborough enjoyed a comfortable six-wicket win at Caunton (113). Woodborough's fielding was excellent, illustrated by three catches apiece in the outfield for both Matt Lane and John Gadsby. Both Paul Wilson (56*) and Phil Bennett (32 and 4-35) did well.

It's been a bad couple of weeks for Wilsons II who have gone from first to third in Division K. The latest defeat came at Caythorpe IV, who successfully chased down 121 thanks to an unbeaten 43 from Andrew Hammond.

The only game in Division L saw Thurgarton's Amy Binch take four vital wickets in the 42-run success at home to Breaston (90).

The top two of Broad Street and Hucknall were inactive in Division M, leaving Chilwell II to close the gap in third with Imran Mohammed (86*) the man-of-the-match in their 87-run hammering of Fiskerton II (114).