Senior Section round-up for 9 July

 

Division 1 leaders Doncaster Town 2nds dropped points this weekend when they played out a thrilling tie at home to South Kirkby. Their visitors won the toss and chose to bat as they posted a substantial 193-7, with Steve Secker scoring 50 and Nick Percival 64 not out. Town then had a lot for which to thank Robert Grace, as his 112 not out anchored a chase where no one else got more than 15, leaving South Kirkby the more disappointed side. In the end, it could have been a lot worse for the table-toppers as second-placed Darfield lost at Upper Haugh, allowing their hosts back into the promotion race. The away side scored just 112 after choosing to bat as Samuel Thompson took 4-30. Upper Haugh chased the target down with four wickets to spare. 

 

At the other end of the table, Oughtibridge War Memorial dragged themselves back into the race for safety as they beat Whitley Hall 2nds at home. Lewis Wake scored 76 and Chaamikara Hewage 55 as they scored 240 after electing to bat. Andrew Pickering’s 80 then came in vain for the visitors as they were left on 221-8 after their 50 overs. It was an especially important win as both Coal Aston and Warmsworth lost their games. Warmsworth were heavily beaten at Sheffield United, where they fell 113 runs short of chasing 197. Isuru Jayakody scored 69 for United with Danuka Hettiarachchi making 59, before Illyas Mohammed took 5-10 in a fine bowling display. Coal Aston’s loss was much closer as they came just two runs short of chasing 250 at home to Sheffield Collegiate 3rds. Charlie Wall had top-scored with 83 for Collegiate and Mark Hickman hit 50. Richard Mintoft’s 84 helped Coal Aston recover from 146-6 to 198-7 in their chase, but they ultimately fell just short when Freddie Ross was run out in the 49th over. 

 

Oughtibridge remain bottom but are now just eight points from safety as the bottom of the table remains tight. Doncaster’s cushion at the top is also eight points, with Upper Haugh cutting the gap to the promotion places to 16. 

 

 

In the battle between third and second, Treeton 2nds secured a huge win over Wickersley Old Village 2nds to cut the gap to the second-placed team to ten points. Batting first away from home, they piled on the runs as Matt Lambert’s 75 followed by James Hobson’s 51 not out helped them to 254-7. Jonathan Barnes then took 4-16 as they bowled Wickersley out for 157, 97 runs short. The result gave Ackworth the perfect opportunity to pull away at the top of the table and they did it in style as they beat Norton Oakes by eight wickets. Shingi Masakadza took 5-36 as the visitors were bowled out for just 58, a score Ackworth chased down in just 8.2 overs. 

 

In the bottom three, Caribbean Sports were well-beaten at home by Aston Hall 2nds, as the visitors kept up their hopes of promotion. After electing to bat, Jared Lovell top-scored with 106 from 92 balls backed up by 77 from Joe Fletcher and a quickfire 70 not out from Thomas Moss, as the visitors scored 328-5. It was a score that left the hosts with a lot to do and, despite 56 from Andre Jackson, they fell 121 runs short as they were bowled out for 207. Monk Bretton and Thorpe Hesley & High Green were also beaten in their respective away games. Monk Bretton’s defeat came at Norton Woodseats, where they fell 99 runs short of their 240 target. David Armitage scored 86 backed up by 55 from Thomas Eyre for the home side, before Aamir Ashfaque’s 5-35 wrapped up the win. Thorpe Hesley & High Green’s loss was tighter, but they ultimately failed to defend 159 at Hallam 2nds. Mateo Boulogne’s 58 for the visitors unfortunately came in vain. Meanwhile, Penistone completed an impressive win at Hatfield as they chased 177 with two wickets to spare. Tom Reid top scored with 44 in the chase.  

 

Results mean that the bottom three remains the same, with the gap to safety sitting at 28 points. Ackworth are now 20 points clear at the top. 

 

 

All the top three won their games at the top of Division 3, although Elsecar 2nds were made to work hard to continue their 100% record this season. Playing away to strugglers Thorncliffe & Wentworth, they were set just 136 to win after Molly Whittaker had taken excellent figures of 6-36. They made the target with only four wickets remaining, however, as Matthew Tonks top-scored with 53. Second-placed Tickhill 2nds’ win at Frecheville Community was more straightforward, as they successfully defended 213-7. Nathaniel Wilkes scored 55 not out for the visitors before Tom Barnett took 5-70; Matt Dexter’s 58 was in vain for the losing side. Kexborough kept up the pace with the promotion places with a five-wicket win at Sprotbrough 2nds as they chased 116, Neil Hinchcliffe taking 5-20 for the visitors. 

 

In the bottom three, there was a massive win for Worsbrough Bridge, who they moved level on points with Oughtibridge War Memorial 2nds. They were set 197 to win at home to Whiston Parish Church 2nds, for whom Dale Stanley scored 60, and they made it with three wickets to spare thanks to 107 not out from Alex Littlewood. The win took advantage of Oughtibridge’s loss at Bradfield Village Fellowship, as they fell 25 runs short of the 165 they were set after choosing to field. Liam Hague scored 64 for the home side with both Tim Pearce and James Shepherd taking four wickets in the second innings. Finally, Parkhead won by 72 runs at home to Wath 2nds as they defended 219 with ease. Chris Turner scored 62 and David Spilman 65 before Ed Brown ended with figures of 5-34.  

 

Elsecar keep their 22-point cushion at the top while Oughtibridge and Worsbrough Bridge are now just six points from safety. 

 

 

Third-placed Cawthorne 2nds won by 53 runs at home to second-placed Stocksbridge; Kade Fletcher hitting 93 from 85 balls as they posted their visitors 225 to win, before Ryan Bagshaw’s 4-42 helped bowl the visitors out for 171. Millhouses Works took advantage of that result as they extended their lead at the top with comfortable win at home to Barnsley Woolley Miners 3rds. Sohail Mumtaz took 5-29 as they bowled their visitors out for 144 before Eisa Hussain’s 60 not out saw them to the win with seven wickets to spare. Fourth-placed Higham also maintained their hopes of promotion with a 131-run win at Rockingham Colliery 2nds. Lliam Dickinson hit 73, followed by 74 from 64 balls from Glen Burden, as they finished on 249-6. Joseph Green then took 4-16 as the home side were bowled out for 118. 

 

At the bottom, Whiston Forge failed to capitalise on a good opportunity as neither team below them had games. Their defeat came when they fell 12 short of chasing 235 away to Sheffield Collegiate 4ths. Ben Jackson scored 136 for the home side before taking 6-50 to leave their visitors 223-9 after their 46 overs. Callum Dearden top-scored with 82 for the visitors, with Steve Cowles’ 52 not out from 43 balls taking them close to an improbable win. It will have been all the more disappointing as Silkstone United’s 45-run loss at home to Handsworth Junior SC gave them the opportunity to climb away from relegation. Handsworth hit 276-4 after electing to bat, with Khalid Rehman hitting 113 from 112 balls and Waqas Ali top-scoring with 118 from just 87. United got a glommer of hope when Ross Whitmore hit 92, but they ultimately fell well short as they were bowled out for 231. 

 

Millhouses lead by 12 from Stocksbridge whilst the bottom four are separatedd by just ten points. 

 

 

Division 5 leaders Wombwell Main were comfortably beaten at fourth-placed Fishlake as things tightened up at the top of the table. The visitors were 74-8 after electing to bat and had Richard Batty to thank as his 28 not out at number nine helped them to 122 all out. It was, however, still well below par and 60 not out from Fishlake’s Charlie Metcalfe saw them knock off the score with six wickets to spare. Both Doncaster Town 3rds and Upper Haugh 2nds capitalised on that with comfortable away wins. Town’s came at Darfield 2nds by 63 runs as they defended 178. Jak Hotchkiss scored 70 before Christian Dobson’s 5-3 helped bowl their hosts out for 115. Upper Haugh hammered 277 in their fixture at Norton Oakes 2nds with Andy Lintin hitting 90 before Steve Reynolds took 5-32 as the home side were bowled out for 155. 

 

The result kept Norton Oakes deep in the relegation zone, with Hallam 3rds and Mexborough Athletic also losing their games. Hallam’s loss came at Conisbrough 2nds by 76 runs as they failed to chase 289. Toby Humphries (76), James Doran (50) and Liam Stainthorpe (69 not out) all passed fifty for the home side in an impressive display. Hallam then fell to 111-8 in the second innings, with Matthew Kraus’ 54 and Matthew Hopkins’ 42 not out somewhat saving their blushes as they were bowled out for 213. Mexborough’s defeat at home to Coal Aston 2nds was a closer run affair, as they came within 17 runs of victory. The visitors scored 242-6 after electing to bat with Thomas Trower scoring 56 and Edward Rabjohn hitting 74 not out from 61 balls. Both Ian Hubery and Gareth Hughes passed fifty in their chase, but the hosts ended on 225-7. 

 

The top four are now separated by just 16 points, while Hallam’s two bonus points mean they are now level on points with Sheffield University Staff in ninth, having played a game more. 

 

 

Sheffield United 2nds kept their lead at the top of Division 6 with a straightforward win away to bottom team, Barnsley Woolley Miners 4ths. They hit 243 in their 40 overs having been put into bat, with Shahid Hussain and Aadam Hassan scoring 61 and 67 respectively. It proved too much for Barnsley to chase although some good batting did see them finish on a confidence-building 157-2. Elsewhere, Penistone 2nds eased to victory at home to Green Moor 2nds as they moved up to second spot. Sam Lee scored 59 at the top of the order before Brandon Fowler hit 56 from 47 to help them to 181 all out. Michael Brown then took 4-14 for the hosts as their visitors were bowled out for 109. 

 

At the bottom, Sprotbrough 3rds climbed out of the relegation zone at the expense of their visitors, Bradfield Village Fellowship 2nds. An extraordinary bowling display saw eight visiting batters fall for ducks, as Nick Graves finished with figures of 8-7, to leave them 51 all out. The hosts made it to the win with seven wickets to spare. Caribbean Sports 2nds also picked up a win to keep up their hopes of survival as they got the better of Handsworth Junior 2nds at Oliver's Mount. After electing to bat, the visitors ended on 106-9 as Jamil Ali took 4-18. Caribbean then chased the total down with four wickets to spare. 

 

Meanwhile, there was a thrilling encounter at the Civil Service Club, where Whitley Hall 3rds lost at home to Wickersley Old Village 3rds by just two runs, dropping to fourth in the process. Their visitors scored 212-5 having been put into bat, with Peter Smith’s 52 coming before James O’Connell’s 68 not out from 40 balls. Whitley Hall started well in reply as Charlie Wragg scored 57, but they fell from 188-6 to 210 all out and lost in agonising fashion. Results mean Sprotbrough are out of the relegation zone on net run rate, with a game in hand on teams around them. Penistone now hold second place with a gap of six points. 

 

 

Brookhouse kept up their winning run at the top of Division 7 with a dominant nine-wicket victory over second bottom Thorncliffe & Wentworth 2nds. Jasneet Gulati and Adam Bryant took figures of 3-3 and 3-5 respectively, as they bowled the strugglers out for just 71. They then strolled to the win in 15 overs. Second-placed Higham 2nds’ win at home to Frecheville 2nds was cut from the same cloth. Steven Bamforth took 5-19 as the visitors were bowled out for just 52 before the hosts got to the total with eight wickets remaining. 

 

At the opposite end of the table, Mexborough Athletic 2nds climbed out of the relegation zone with a huge win away to basement side Monk Bretton 2nds. Lewis Pursglove was the star of the show as he smashed 151 not out from 103 balls to help the away side to 251-5 after choosing to bat. Dean Oxley then took 4-13 as they bowled their hosts out for just 96, 155 runs short of their target. Finally, in a weekend dominated by one-sided affairs, Millhouses Works 2nds won by eight wickets at Harley. They bowled their hosts out for just 67 after they had chosen to bat, chasing down the total with ease. 

 

A change in the standings means that Eden Grove Parklands drop into the bottom three, although they do have a game in hand on teams around them. Brookhouse keep their eight-point cushion at the top, still with a game in hand. 

 

 

Doncaster Town 4ths kept up their pressure on the top of Division 8 with an imperious victory at home to bottom side Fishlake 2nds. A strong bowling display saw the visitors all out for just 45, a score Town chased in 7.2 overs with nine wickets to spare. The win was especially valuable given the fact that third-placed Houghton Main 2nds failed to defend 171 at home to Silkstone United 2nds. Thomas Grimshaw took 6-19 for the visitors, before 58 from Alfie Rose helped United chase down the total with just two wickets remaining. 

 

Elsewhere, Worsbrough Bridge 2nds climbed to sixth with a 168-run win away to strugglers Wath 3rds. Darren Newton smashed 124 off 82 balls and Mark Wilson ended 122 not out from 90 balls, as they posted a mammoth 329-5. The hosts were always going to struggle chasing the total down, and so it proved as they ended on 161-7. Finally, fourth-placed Rockingham Colliery 3rds kept up their hopes of promotion with a 47-run win at home to Dearne. James Andrews hit 68 before Enzo Campagna top-scored with 100 not out, as they scored 238-3 after choosing to bat. Tilly Thomas then took 4-47 as the Colliery removed their visitors for 191. 

Despite their loss, Dearne climbed out of the bottom three after Scholes conceded their game against Hatfield 2nds. The gap to the top two has now widened to 12 points. 

 

 

Adwick-le-Street took the lead in Division 9 with an utterly dominant win away to previous league leaders, Whiston Forge 2nds. Openers Luke and Liam Bishop socred 68 and 76 respectively, and Adwick made 279-9 before bowling their hosts out for 109, with Matthew Eades taking 5-32. 

 

Towards the bottom, Eden Grove Parklands 2nds completed a fine victory away to Kexborough 2nds, as they chased down 119 with six wickets to spare. Bradley Keeton was the pick of the side as he took 5-11 in the first innings. Sixth-placed Brookhouse 2nds enjoyed no such luck as they were well beaten at Wombwell Main 2nds. The home side scored 192-3 after electing to bat with Chris Ferris hitting 66 and Callum Whitehead finishing 50 not out. The visitors made good progress in their chase, but ultimately fell short of the required rate as they ended on 160-4 in reply. Carl Raynes’ 81 was the highlight in an otherwise disappointing display. Lastly, Hampole & Skelbrooke continued their good season as they won by 30 runs at home to Rockingham Colliery 4ths. Alex Beresford put in one of the performances of the weekend as he scored 133 not out to carry the hosts to 200-5 after electing to bat. A fine bowling display then limited the away side to 170-9 in reply.  

 

Adwick-le-Street are now out in front by six points at the top although both Whiston Forge and Upper Haugh 3rds have games in hand below them. 

 

League tables 

 

Full scorecards