The firsts travelled all the way to Staveley for the game that would go along way to deciding who got promotion to the Premier League. At the begginning of the day Staveley were 14 points clear so defeat would help Staveley alot while a draw would still help Staveley but keep it interesting.

After winning the toss and putting Staveley in we made a good start with Jonny Shales getting Martin Camm LBW and then getting his 2nd wicket a few overs later. With Dave Mudd bowling well at the other end the game was balanced after 20 overs with the score at 7o 0dd for 2.

George Chapman along with brother Will then slowed the scoring rate down and then Will helped swing the balance to us by bowling John May for a good 49. George picked up a couple of wickets as he continued his 15 over spell for just 40 runs and then Andy Goodwin picked up one in a brief spell. Jonny Shales then returned to get 3 more to end up with 5-44 and with the help of a run out Staveley were bowled out for 169 in the 48th over. So we had to get a very gettable 170 in 52 overs, a total we would back ourselves to get more times than not.

Our worst start to an innings this season came at the worst possible time when Ben Bridgen was bowled 2nd ball of the innings, followed 2 overs later by Dave Hartley LBW. 3-2 soon was 5-3 as Jonny Shales was bowled by a top ball to give Hoare his 3rd wicket. Andy Goodwin was then caught by a one handed catch just as we could do with a bit of luck to leave the score at 8-4, still a very long way from 170.

Tony Mudd led a mini fightback but when he was LBW the score was 20-5 and looking even worse. George Chapman then joined Steve Gough as they went about rebuilding the innings to give us a chance of an unlikely win. They both batted well but when Hoare returned to bowl Steve Gough and then when Dave Mudd went soon after the score was still a long way off. Chapman seemed very untroubled by the wickest falling as he kept the score ticking along bringing up his deserved 50 and ending up with 69. Dave Adams batting with a runner because of a bad ankle kept George company for a bit to leave 39 needed off the last 10 overs but when Chapman and Ady Shales were both bowle din consecutive balls the game was all but over. Hoare finished the game 2 overs later to have figures of 8-41 to win Staveley the game and they went 34 points clear of us, a big gap with only 3 games left.

The seconds went into the game with Dunstall needing a win to ease any relegation fears that there might have been. Batting first we made a respectable 179-9 with Danny Green making 70 supported well by Tom Chapman (26) and then by Rob Goodwin, Olly Baum and Graham Boden.

At 90-0 and with Adrian Ball going really well the game looked over but when Boden snapped him up the game changed. Sean Green and Mark Johnson then took 4 wickets each to leave Dunstall on 150-9 and then Boden returned to get the last wicket to give us a very good 27 points.

The thirds lost away to Swarkestone by 30 runs after bowling them out for 165. Geoff Leedham took 5-47 helped by Micheal Davies, 3-24. Only Dave Finch with 57 offered any resistance as we were bowled out for 135 to leave us needing at least one good result in 3 to make them entirely safe.

The fourths had a good winning draw at home to Elvaston after scoring a good 218-8. John Clement scored another 50 as he made 51 helped by Laurence Burford (34) and Dave Bridgen (44). Elvaston threatened but Dave Bridgen with 4-33 and Graham Back with 3-33 helped restrict them to 204-9.

Related Links:
League Tables 2003