TUTBURY’S topsy turvy season came to an end with a strong final weekend that saw them into the top half of Derbyshire County League Division Two.
At one stage in 2011, it looked like the Mill side would challenge for promotion to Division One — but inconsistencies eventually cost an undoubtedly talented oufit.
However, they almost recorded two wins on the final weekend, with batsman Paul Edwards the star of the show.
An abandonment on the verge of victory against Denby 2nds on Saturday was followed by a win over Aston on Sunday to complete the campaign.
Rain robbed Tutbury of the chance to secure the last two Denby wickets on Saturday.
The match still had almost 10 overs to run but rain won the day with Denby teetering on 134-8 after 36.4 overs in reply to Tutbury’s challenging 241-4.
Tom Rice (3-32) caused Denby early problems and wickets for Matt Edgerton (2-33) and Matt McGibbon (2-10) saw the home side reduced to 69-7.
Phil Glenn (28no) and Simon Mann had added 33 for ninth wicket when rain interfered.
Tutbury had earlier lost McGibbon early on but Darren Yeomans (88) and Edwards (77no) put them in the ascendency with a fine partnership of 150 for the fourth wicket.
A win on the final day over Aston was enough to see them finish in the top half of the table, one place above their defeated opponents.
Aston posted a competitive 235-9 before the break thanks to Abdul Rehman (76) and Mehmoon Tariq (31), but Tutbury responded in kind and claimed victory with more than three overs to spare, Edwards (84) and Lee Stanbury (30) providing the runs.
LULLINGTON Park 2nds crashed through the Division Three trapdoor after backto- back defeats on the final weekend.
Adam Johnson’s men sank without trace against promotion hopefuls Langley Mill on Saturday, getting shot out for a diabolical 38 all out in response to their hosts’ 257-6.
On Sunday, meanwhile, Trentside beat Park’s second string with some ease to confirm their relegation.
In the first game, an opening stand of 191 between Jamie Salmons (105) and Paul Bailey (107) effectively put the game beyond the reach of Lullington, who crashed to a dismal 38 all out in reply.
Will Smith (3-71) and Rob Hodson- Walker (2-13) had claimed late wickets for Lullington but they could not compete with the figures produced by Jeff Wharton (6-13) and David Farnsworth (4-22) after the break.
Only lone battler Will Arnold (14no) made it into double figures for the hosts, who needed need a good Sunday to escape the drop.
Only a win would save them from relegation but a Tom Jones century (102no) helped Trentside to a 70-run win and Lullington will be playing Division Four South cricket in 2012.
Ryan Ayling (32), Stephen Moran (39) and Tom Liversage (40) provided excellent support to Jones and Trentside closed on 244-4.
Key man Tom Oliver was lost early after tea and Lullington were never really at the races thereafter.
Karl Hancox (5-43) and Scott Dunn (2- 53) gradually assumed control and Lullington were eventually dismissed for 174 in the 45th over. Tom Chapman (62) and Sean Green (27) fought hard but their efforts were all in vain.
The win completed a decent weekend for the Branston side.
Their relegation fears all but vanished after they completed a comfortable five-wicket win over mid-table rivals Brailsford.
Ben Tivey (5-54) helped restrict Brailsford to a modest 192-7 despite runs from Duncan Player (41) and James Dakin (37) but Liversage’s superb innings of 96 after the break made for a comfortable Trentside reply.
Ayling chimed in with an extremely useful 45 and Trentside romped home with seven overs to spare.
