FREE-FALLING TUTBURY slumped to another defeat as Sandiacre 2nds maintained their bid for promotion from Derbyshire County League Division Two with a comfortable seven-wicket win.
Scott Light and Sam Wesson went without scoring to leave Tutbury on 8-2, with Andy Marlow (4-19) reaping most of the havoc, but Darren Yeomans (23) and Craig Watson (21) steadied the ship with a stand of 37.
It proved only a brief recovery, however, with three wickets falling with the score on 45, though Rob Ellerington (50no) stopped the rot in the company of Andy Luffman.
Another 37 runs were added, but young spinner Jono Clare (4-32) took the first of his four wickets to leave the Tutbury innings on 82-6.
Ellerington continued to defy the Sandiacre attack and received good support in the shape of Ben Bartram (19), but the latter’s dismissal signalled a collapse to 142 all out.
Ellerington was left high and dry, his excellent half-century including no fewer than 10 fours.
Bartram claimed the early scalp of Praveen Chandran after tea, but a stand of 56 between Tom Priestley (25) and Dan Green (23) settled any Sandiacre nerves.
Craig Watson (2-12) reduced the hosts to 63-3 with a couple of quick wickets, but there were to be no more successes for Tutbury, with Matt Swann (45no) and Ben Trembling (31no) easing their side home in just the 33rd over.
Tutbury are still not mathematically safe from relegation but, despite the complete loss of form, they probably have enough points on the board.
LULLINGTON PARK 2NDS got much the better of a draw with ALREWAS to improve their chances of escaping relegation to Division Four South.
At the same time, they dealt a blow to Alrewas’s promotion hopes, although the news of Langley Mill’s defeat to Wirksworth softened the blow somewhat.
Park’s innings did not begin well as they stuttered to 19-2, but Tom Oliver (23) and Danny Gough (67) added 38 for the third wicket and the recovery took shape.
Adam Johnson (40) joined Gough to add a further 72 and good runs from Will Arnold improved matters further.
Nick Richards (4-29) took the shine off the final run chase, but 217 was still a useful total and Alrewas lost Tom Chapman for nought early after the break.
The dismissal rather set the tone for the reply and Gough (2-49) reduced Alrewas to 45-3.
Ollie Broadway (33) and Richards (57) added 46 for the fourth wicket, but Alrewas were always behind the asking rate and were happy to settle for a draw.
Johnson (4-54) caused a modicum of panic, but James Burton (36) and Rafe Payne (21) had done enough to stave off the threat of defeat.
Andy Easter’s unbeaten half-century was enough to see WALTON to an important win over TRENTSIDE, who have hit a rough patch of form at just the wrong time.
Both sides are still very much under threat of relegation, but Walton will take heart from their performance, especially as they can potentially make more progress this coming weekend against bottom club Pilsley.
Walton were in complete charge from the outset, with Trentside reduced to a sorry 20-4.
Ed Chapman claimed two of the early wickets and Trentside never properly recovered, although both Tom Liversage (34) and Scott Dunn (29) showed what was possible.
The partial recovery took Trentside to 85-5, but Dan Russell (3-21) and Phil Preston (4-39) confirmed Walton’s superiority and the home side slumped to a disappointing 111 all out in the 37th over.
Trentside claimed two early wickets after the break as Walton slipped to a precarious 15-2, but Easter, together with Chapman (15), repaired the early damage with a stand of 59 and Walton were as good as home.
Karl Hancox (3-29) decided that the outcome should not be clear-cut, reducing the visitors to 99-6, but Easter was eventually joined by skipper Jav Oomer and victory was achieved without further loss in the 31st over.
The result leaves both sides needing a good haul of points this weekend to keep bottom pair Mickleover and Pilsley at bay.
