Chorleywood complete unbeaten season (From Watford Observer)

Chorleywood complete unbeaten season with draw at Hitchin

12:20pm Friday 14th September 2012 in Sport

SARACENS HERTS LEAGUE

Division One

Already crowned champions Chorleywood cemented their place in Herts League history as their draw against Hitchin meant the side completed an unbeaten season.

However, the final game of the season saw Wood having to display a different set of skills from normal as they battled to hang on for a draw in a game where they were under pressure throughout.

Hitchin chose to bat first in ideal conditions and ran up an imposing total of 246 for seven from their 53 overs.

Wood’s attack struggled to make inroads into the home side’s batting line-up but the spinners did the damage, with Will Pendred picking up three wickets and Josh Ryan two.

In reply, Wood struggled and they lost early wickets, quickly finding themselves in trouble at 39 for four.

But opener Rohan Lee and skipper Tom Smithson dug in and showed their determination not to lose their unbeaten record as they kept the home side’s attack out for the next 20 overs.

Smithson was eventually dismissed for 11 and Wood again faltered as wickets fell.

Lee stood firm though, and they held out, finishing on 118 for seven to secure their unbeaten record.

The draw meant that Wood finished with 13 wins and just two draws for the season, with the other three games being lost to the weather. They also finished a massive 77 points clear at the top of the final league table, confirming their status as very deserving champions.

Division Two

Watford Town ended their season with a hard-fought 15-run victory against Leverstock Green.

Batting first, Town amassed a total of 185 for eight from their allotted 52 overs.

Brad Klosterman claimed four wickets for 69, while Adam Thomas ended with impressive figures of four for 40.

Green opener Luke Roberts batted well as he scored 32 before being bowled by Naseer Ahmed.

Alex King, in at number three, was in good form with the bat as he struck 57 off just 43 balls before being caught off the bowling of Ahmed.

Mark Craft scored 31 before being given leg before wicket. But Green continued to lose wickets regularly throughout their innings and were dismissed short of their target on 170.

Abbots Langley secured their first victory since the end of June as they overcame Knebworth Park Seconds by eight wickets but the win was not enough to save them from the drop.

After losing the toss, Langley were put into the field and despite taking two early wickets, Park looked in a strong position at 99 for two.

However, Barry Warner (five for 65) and Matt Dunstone (two for 41) then took control and Knebworth collapsed to 125 for six.

They did offer some resistance to reach a final total of 184 all out.

In reply, Craig Smith and Blesson Ghoghe opened up and put on 48 in 12 overs before Ghoghe was bowled.

The second wicket soon followed and Abbots were at 55 for two.

But Smith (92 not out) and Nick Laws (58 not out) put on 130 for the third wicket to get their side home without further loss.

Northwood suffered a nail-biting four-run defeat at the hands of Broxbourne.

Wood required two points to avoid relegation and secured this by taking six wickets when Broxbourne opted to bat first.

Northwood chased a total of 191 but started nervously and despite Swampnail’s 30, found themselves at 75 for four.

Spirited displays though, from Cameron Unicomb (41), Steve Hussey (25) and Simon Noach (30) left Northwood needing six off the last over with one wicket to spare.

It was Broxbourne’s day though, as they got the last scalp and bowled their opponents out for 187.

Kings Langley missed out on promotion by just three points despite overcoming relegated Chipperfield Clarendon by seven wickets.

Chipperfield scored 210 all out, with Kings’ Mark Brazier taking four wickets and Varman Ratnakuranan taking two.

In response though, Tom Sambrook’s undefeated 79 and Joe Cooke’s 57 not out saw Kings cruise to victory but results elsewhere condemned them to third, just outside the promotion spots.

Division Four

Langleybury Seconds romped to victory with a 72-run victory over Potton Town to go out on a high despite being relegated.

Having opted to bat first, Gus Ball notched 64 and he was ably supported by Lee Channer (39 not out) and Roger Ball (30).

With a target set of 212, Langleybury weighed in to the Potton batsmen, with Eddie Gunning’s four for 46 and Andy Stone sealing a convincing win.