SWD win battle of the heavyweights
by Tom Hilton, 14th July 2008

This weekend the Sheaf Sports YDCL presented a heavyweight clash with league leaders Parkhead travelling to second placed SWD. The home side struggled to a relatively modest 148-9 with Jeffrey doing the hard work for Parkhead taking 5-31. Bradley Sampson took centre stage after tea plundering 7-36 as Parkhead were bowled out for 103 tightening the gap at the top.

De La Salle produced an equally modest total at home to University Staff of 145 with Burton top scoring with 57. Green’s 4-33 and Mitchell’s 4-38 made certain of victory as Staff could only manage 119 in reply.The bottom three remain bunched together with nobody seemingly wanting to break away after Saturday’s results. Third bottom Ashford were comfortably beaten by Hundall. After Cox had taken his 7-57 to reduce Ashford to 130 all out the Hundall batsmen completed the job with seven men still in the hutch.

Calver had an impressive showing with the ball, none more so than Mundy who took 5-35 as Stanton closed on 134-9, for whom Hadfield glued the innings together with 43. An exhibition of line and length from Dave Clark helped him to 6-34 and bowled out Calver for just 78. Collegiate remain rock bottom after their defeat to Holmesfield. 82 from Ward set Holmesfield’s foundations for 191-9 which Collegiate fell short of, closing on 161-8.

Division 2 is still wide open with early season favourites Parkhead II losing to Millhouses. Parkhead’s 196-6 which included Gopal’s unbeaten 61 and 4-36 from Mumtaz, should probably have been a winning score given the conditions but 70 from Joyce and 47* from Dewsbury saw Millhouses home to an impressive 5 wicket win.

A stunning bowling display from Robinson capped with figures of 8-41 was the catalyst to Hathersage’s success. Chesterfield Barbarians were steamrolled for 79. Hathersage made hard work of the run chase however losing 6 wickets. Stocksbridge kept up their recent form bowling out Youlgreave Lodge for 108 with Siddall the pick of the bowlers taking 4-24. Stocksbridge won by 5 wickets with Spawton’s 42 the highlight.

In Division 3 the hapless Sheffield Collegiate V were crushed by Peach who picked up juicy figures of 5-18 as Collegiate fell for 63. The Bakewell openers Wallace and Haynes took no prisoners and finished the job without loss.

A bowler’s paradise at Sheffield Transport where Walmsly took 5-13 to keep Transport to 95. De La Salle must’ve thought victory was assured but Lewis (5-22) and Cotterill (4-22) had other ideas as they were bowled out for just 49.

A sound performance with the bat from Walkley led them to 212-5. Frith hit an unbeaten 118 for the Division 3 strugglers and Hudson hit a useful 48. Weston Park Hospital could only manage 158 in response.

Whittington Wanderers tightened their grip on Division 4 in a close game at Hathersage II. Batting first Wanderers crawled onto 88-8 with the consistant Nobrega taking 4-43 and the wily Somerton 4-45. Hathersage were bowled out just 9 short of victory. Ijas top scored for them with 41 but the significant performances were Turner’s 5-46 and Whiteley’s 5-32.

Sheepbridge II picked up an important 25 points against Coal Aston. They set 123 in the first innings then bowled out Coal Aston for just 72. Dronfield Woodhouse consolidated second spot thanks to Turner’s impressive 8-37 helping to keep Centralians II to just 79. However Dronfield staggered over the finishing line with just 3 wickets in hand. 131-6 was enough for Hundall II as they kept Whittington Wanderers II to 87-9 thanks in no small part to Gibson’s 6-28.

In Division 5 an unbeaten stand of 168 from Ron and Stuart Firth eased Dronfield Sports Contact to a substantial 258-2 Ron Firth was 134 not out at the close and Stuart 65 not out. 44 from Taylor in the second innings was not enough for Youlgreave Lodge II who lost by 154 runs.

McGrath made 82 of Ashford II’s 134-8 against Chesterfield Barbarians II then Wilson did the damage with the ball taking 7-20 to bowl out Barbs for 61. Elsewhere Zingari II beat Hallam by 4 wickets chasing 101 for victory and Wingerworth Saltergate beat Stocksbridge III by 6 runs having made 108 from their 46 overs.