HILTON completed promotion from Division Four South of the Derbyshire County League.
But an abandonment and a defeat on the final weekend cost them the title after they led the way for much of the season.
Instead, Alvaston & Boulton 2nds got the silverware — but Hilton went up as the best second-placed side at Division Four level, 20 points ahead of Chesterfield 2nds.
On Saturday, they looked likely to beat Elvaston as they chased 209 all out.
But at 81-1 — and with star batsman Alan Barber unbeaten on 48 — the rains came and ended the contest.
With A&B now ahead in the race for the title, Hilton needed to win on Sunday but fluffed it against Darley Abbey, getting dismissed for 150 before going down by eight wickets.
DUNSTALL 2nds, who looked like winning promotion at the height of summer, lost to Ticknall 2nds on Saturday before a draw with Little Eaton on Sunday.
The stylish Johnny Thompstone made the Stags suffer on Saturday as he first grabbed 3-36 with the ball before crashing an unbeaten 85 to take his side to an eight-wicket win after tea.
Dunstall’s top scorer was young George Scrimshaw (33), with Graham Chamberlain (4-24) also bowling well as the Stags could only reach 168 all out.
Ticknall had more than 10 overs to spare as left-hander Thompstone, who also cracked a ton against A&B on Sunday, won it.
The following day, the Stags were back at Deer Park and had the better of a draw with Little Eaton thanks to Ben Brown (159no).
